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THE  TREASURE 


THE  TREASURE 


A  DRAMA  IN  FOUR  ACTS 
By  DAVID  PINSKI 


TRANSLATED  BY  LUDWIG  LEWISOHN 


NEW  YORK     B.  W.  HUEBSCH     MCMXV 


COPYHIOHT,    191.J,    BY  H.    W.     HUEBSCH 


First  printing,  September,  1915 
Second  printing,  May,  1919 


РЕГКТЕО    IV    и.    S.    A. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  conscious  aлvakcning  of  the  Jewish  folk- 
soul  during  the  past  hundred  years  has  had  two 
results.  One  of  them  is  Zionism  —  the  hope  and 
work  for  a  Jewish  state;  the  other  and  perhaps 
more  solid  result  has  taken  the  shape  of  a  national 
literature.  The  race  has  not  ceased  to  contribute 
to  the  art  and  thought  of  the  Aryan  Avorld ;  such 
names  as  Arthur  Schnitzler  and  Henri  Bergson 
bear  ample  witness  to  that  fact.  But  in  addition 
there  has  arisen  a  literature  distinctly  Jewish  in 
theme,  spirit  and  method.  This  literature,  лу1исЬ 
is  chiefly  the  product  of  the  Russian  ghetto,  is 
marked  by  a  large  and  sad  simplicity,  by  excellent 
technique,  and  by  an  austerely  honest  realism. 
The  medium  of  a  small  portion  of  it  is  Hebrew, 
but  of  the  far  greater  part  Yiddish,  a  language 
which  the  philologist  may  call  a  dialect,  into  which, 
however,  the  most  peculiar  of  peoples  has  breathed 
the  very  spirit  of  its  life. 

The  Yiddish  drama  has  lagged,  necessarily,  be- 
hind both  fiction  and  poetry.  The  people  of  the 
Russian  ghetto  are  incredibly  poor  and  oppressed 
with  incredible  cruelty  by  their  barbarous  gov- 
ernors. Not  until  tlie  Jewish  stages  arose  and 
flourished  so  admirably  in  the  city  of  New  York 
has  there  been  any  vital  chance  for  the  drama. 

Among  contemporary  Jewisli  playлvrights  David 
Pinski  (b.  1872)  is  remarkable  for  this:  tliat  he 
5 


в  INTRODUCTION 

combines  with  his  sensitive  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  his  people's  life  a  thorough  familiarity  with 
the  dominant  forms  and  moods  of  Western  litera- 
ture. He  studied  this  literature  as  well  as  phi- 
losophy at  Berlin  and  at  Columbia  University; 
he  has  been  the  friend  and  comrade  of  the  liv- 
ing masters  of  the  German  drama;  he  is  coming 
into  continually  closer  contact  with  the  intel- 
lectual and  artistic  life  of  America-  Hence,  though 
his  work  is  so  deeply  rooted  in  an  ethnic  soil, 
he  has  the  best  chance  of  any  contemporary  Jew- 
ish writer  of  rising  into  the  field  of  world  lit- 
erature. Like  all  the  more  notable  masters  of  the 
modern  theatre  he  started  out  as  a  consistent  nat- 
uralist, embodying  in  Eisik  Scheftel  and  in  other 
plays  the  struggle  and  tragedy  of  the  Jewish  pro- 
letariat; like  them  he  has,  in  later  years,  culti- 
vated vision  and  imagination  in  Der  eibiger  Jud 
{The  Eternal  Jetv),  Der  stummer  Moschiach 
(The  Dumb  Messiah)  and  in  a  series  of  exquisite 
plays  in  one  act  dealing  with  the  loves  of  King 
David.  These  plays  are  written  in  a  rhythmic 
prose  created  by  Pinski  himself.  That  prose  is 
as  subtly  beautiful  as  Maeterlinck's  or  Yeats's: 
in  passion  and  in  reality  the  Jewish  playwright 
surpasses  both  the  Flemish  and  the  Irish  neo- 
romanticist. 

The  Treasure  (Der  Schats)  is  the  first  play  of 
the  modem  Jewish  theatre  to  be  offered  to  an 
English  reading  audience.  It  belongs  to  Pinski's 
middle  period ;  in  a  German  translation  it  was  pro- 
duced by  Max  Reinhardt  at  Berlin  in  1910  and 
acknowledged  to  be  a  work  of  remarkable  power 
and  significance  by  so  weighty  a  critic  as  Paul 
Schlentlier.     And   the   play,    in    truth,    illustrates 


INTRODUCTION  7 

well  what  I  have  said  of  Pinski's  ability  to  trans- 
cend the  merely  ethnic,  the  merely  national.  The 
scene  is  a  Jewish  town  in  the  Russian  pale;  you 
cannot  conceive  of  the  characters  or  the  action 
as  other  than  Jewish.  Yet,  having  read  this  bit- 
ter comedy,  you  are  aware  of  the  poet's  larger 
vision  dealing  with  man's  struggle  for  earthly 
possessions  and  with  the  deep  truth  that  such  pos- 
sessions give  liberty  to  life  and  flexibility  and  even 
its  transitory  touch  of  romance.  That  is  the  mean- 
ing of  the  dreams  of  Tille  and  of  those  irrespon- 
sible deeds  of  hers  that  furnish  the  action  of  the 
play.  It  is  youth  hungering  for  freedom  and 
romance  from  the  galling  chains  of  poverty. 
About  Tille  is  gathered  a  group  of  men  and 
women  whom  the  pursuit  of  money  has  made  sor- 
did and  hard  and  ugly.  And  yet  in  the  voices  of 
all  the  seekers  in  that  graveyard  there  is  the 
tremor  of  a  fairer  hope.  For  the  hideous  struggle 
after  money  is,  in  the  last  analysis,  actuated  by  a 
dream  of  liberty  and  beauty  and  light.  This  is 
the  riddle  of  the  mystic  epilogue. 

The  language  of  the  play  may  not  be  without 
difficulties  for  the  reader  even  in  an  English 
version.  The  order  of  words,  the  inflection  of  the 
voice  in  written  and  spoken  Yiddish  constantly 
betray  the  racial  memory  of  the  rhythm  of  Hebrew. 
I  have  not  dared  to  sacrifice  these  peculiarities 
entirely,  for  they  are  of  the  soul  of  the  work. 
Neither  have  I  struck  out  all  the  imprecations  — 
so  strange  to  an  American  ear  —  that  abound  in 
the  speech  of  the  Jewish  folk.  For  they  express 
the  almost  angry  tenderness  of  a  people  ac- 
quainted with  grief,  the  "bitter  heart"  that  has 
often  almost  forgotten  the  uses  of  delight.     They 


8  INTRODUCTION 

hnve  nothing  in  common  with  an  Aryan  curse. 
Under  their  harshness  is  the  echo  of  immemorial 
sorrow,  under  their  sharp  impatience  a  power  to 
endure  in  faith  and  hope  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration. 

LUDWIG   LEЛVISOHN. 

The  Oliio  State  University, 
May,  1915. 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

CHONE,  the  grave-digger. 

JACHNE-BRAINE,  his  wife. 

TIIXE,  his  daughter. 

JUDKE,  his  son. 

THE  MARRIAGE  BROKER. 

SOSKIN,  the  leading  citizen  and  capitalist. 

THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  CONGREGATION. 

TWO  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  PRO- 
VIDING DOWRIES  FOR  POOR  MAIDENS. 

TWO  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  THE 
CARE  OF  THE  SICK. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  FRATERNAL  BURIAL 
SOCIETY. 

THE  LAWYER. 

A  YOUNG  COUPLE. 

AN  OLD  COUPLE. 

THREE  YOUNG  MEN. 

AN  HYSTERICAL  WOMAN. 

A  YOUNG  WOMAN. 

HER  LITTLE  DAUGHTER. 

FOUR  SMALL  BOYS. 

A  FEARFUL  GROUP. 

A  MERRY  GROUP. 

THE  MAN  WHO  HAS  GONE  MAD. 

HIS  WIFE. 

POPULACE. 

THE  HOLY  RABBI.  Ч  ,     ,,     т.т>тт  ^^.ттт, 
THE  DEAD.  }/«/йв  EPILOGUE. 

The  action  takes  place  on  tlie  fast  day  wliicli  com- 
memorates the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  on  the 
day  following. 


The  Treasure 


ACT  I 

•iohite-washed  room  in  the  grave-digger's  dwell- 
ing. In  the  rear  xcall  are  two  windows  that 
give  on  the  graveyard.  Between  them  stands 
an  old,  worn  leather  sofa.  In  the  left  wall  is  a 
door  that  leads  into  the  kitchen  and  into  the 
outer  hall;  to  the  left  of  this  door  the  kitchen 
stove  projects  into  the  room.  Beside  it  stands 
a  bench.  To  the  right  of  the  door  is  an  old 
cupboard  with  glass-doors  and  drawers.  In 
the  foreground  to  the  right  stands  a  bed.  Gar- 
ments, wrapped  in  a  sheet,  hang  above  it. 
Next  to  the  bed  there  is  another  door  which 
leads  to  the  adjoining  room.  In  front  of  the 
sofa  stands  a  folding  table.  Several  chairs 
stand  about  at  haphazard;  the  whole  room,  is 
pervaded  by  disorder.  The  bed  is  not  made 
and  feather  beds  are  lying  about  on  the  sofa. 
In  the  extreme  foreground,  in  the  middle, 
JACHNE-BRAINE  is  sitting  on  a  low  footstool. 
She  has  no  shoes  on  and  her  toes  protrude  from 
her  torn  stockings.  An  old  red  cloth  is  tied 
about  her  head.  She  reads  aloud  the  songs  of 
lamentation  and  weeps  the  while,  tillk  sits 
to  the  right  by  the  open  window,  coquettishly 
leaning  back  in  her  chair.  She  has  on  an  old, 
9 


10  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

•worn  green  bodice.  Her  hair  is  elaborately 
combed  and  gathered  in  a  high  knot.  There 
are  curls  over  her  forehead.  In  front  of  her 
on  the  window  sill  stands  a  small  mirror  in 
which  she  looks  at  herself  often  as  she  arranges 
her  curls.  Various  people  are  seen  to  be  pass- 
ing the  window  without. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Reads  slowly  but  scarcely  separating  the  words 
and  with  poor  expression.']  The  Israelites  who 
used  on  the  Passover  —  to  eat  of  the  sacrifice  of  the 
Passover,  they  have  eaten  for  hunger  —  the  heads 
of  asses  and  —  and  satisfied  their  hunger  with  bit- 
terness. Our  sins  are  wound  about  our  necks  and 
—  God  hath  said:  I  —  will  remember  your  sins  — 
and  —  ye  shall  eat  of  the  flesh  of  your  children. 
And  because  your  daughters  —  [Outside  from  a 
distance  is  heard  the  sound  of  many  voices  and 
above  it  loud  lamentation  and  cries  of  woe.] 

[tille  gazes  into  the  mirror,  arranges  her  curls  and 
then  looks  out  of  the  window.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  .  .  .  There's  the  funeral  now!  .  .  . 
And  you're  looking  into  the  mirror.  It's  a  widow, 
not  a  widower.  [She  continues  her  reading.] 
And  because  the  daughters  of  Jerusalem  have 
boasted  of  their  beauty  and  have  said,  when  —  the 
Babylonians  come  —  they  Avill  make  us  to  be  their 
wives  and  —  therefore  it  came  to  pass  that  —  when 
the  Babylonians  came  to  Jerusalem  and  —  and  took 
them  unto  themselves,  God  smote  them  with  leprosy 
and  —  when  the  Babylonians  saw  this  —  they  cast 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  11 

forth  the  women  —  and  the  wheel  of  the  chariot 
passed  over  their  head  and  —  [She  interrupts  her 
reading  and  turns  to  tille.]  Better  would  it  be 
for  you  to  listen  than  to  look  at  yourself  in  the 
mirror.  [She  continues  her  reading.]  And  be- 
cause the  daughters  of  Jerusalem  boasted  of  their 
beauty  and  —  [Once  more  she  interrupts  herself.] 
Usually  you  go  about  uncombed  for  days.  Just 
to-day  because  it  is  a  fast-day  and  forbidden,  you 
go  and  set  a  tower  on  your  head.  [Reads.]  .  .  . 
have  said,  when  the  Babylonians  come,  they  will 
make  us  to  be  their  wives  and  —  [Interrupting 
herself  anew.]  Go  away  from  the  window,  I  say! 
Away  from  it!  No  Babylonians  will  be  passing 
and  no  man  will  come  to  the  graveyard  on  the 
ninth  of  Ab  to  look  for  a  bride ! 

TILLE 

[Turns  to  her,  good-naturedly.]  Don't  let  me 
disturb  you.     You  stick  to  your  lamentations. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Look,  if  you  please!  There  she  sits  spreading 
herself  and  looking  into  the  mirror!  [Reads,] 
Therefore  it  came  to  pass  that  —  when  the  Baby- 
lonians came  to  Jerusalem  —  and  took  them  unto 
themselves,  God  smote  them  with  leprosy  and  — 
when  the  Babylonians  saw  this —  [She  breaks 
off.]  Look,  how  she  sits !  Go  away  from  the  win- 
dow, I  say !  A  leprosy  is  what  you  deserve !  Oh, 
thou  great  God ! 

[A  tumult  of  voices  and  the  lamenting  cries  of  many 
women  approach.  A  funeral  procession  passes 
by  the  window.     One  can  see  the  black-covered 


li  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

bier,  carried  by  several  men  and  accompanied 
by  many  people.  There  arises  the  heart-rend- 
ing cry  of  a  young  woman:  "  Why  have  you 
left  me !  Who  will  care  for  me  now  !  Oh,  my 
seven  unhappy  children!  Take  me  unto  thee, 
Almighty  Father!  "  The  lament  and  the  noise 
die  away.'] 

TILLE 

Seven  orphans !     Frightful ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  you  sit  and  stare  in  the  mirror! 

TILLE 

WTiat  will  the  poor  woman  do?  She  will  starve. 
An  eternal  widow.  Who  will  marry  the  mother  of 
seven  children? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Especially  when  the  maidens  sit  at  the  window 
and  stire  their  eyes  out  of  their  heads. 

TILLE 

Oh,  do  stop !  Do  you  find  that  in  your  lamenta- 
tions? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

In  my  lamentations  it  is  written  that  you  are  to 
put  away  the  mirror  and  go  from  the  window ! 

TILLE 

Wliy  does  it  vex  you  that  I  sit  here?  Do  you 
grudge  me  even  that? 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  13 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  are  not  to  sit  at  the  window.  It  would  be 
better  for  you  to  sit  here  too  and  read  lamentations. 

TILLE 

I  never  get  out  on  the  street;  I  can't  show  my- 
self among  people  —  I  have  nothing  to  put  on.  So 
at  least  let  me  sit  by  the  window  and  see  a  few 
human  beings.  And  when  am  I  to  do  it  except  at  a 
funeral  or  on  a  fast  day  when  many  people  come 
to  the  graveyard.'' 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Talk  to  her!  What's  the  use?  When  people 
come  she  has  to  sit  down  there  as  in  a  show-win- 
dow! 

TILLE 

And  why  shouldn't  I  ?  [Laughing  merrily.'] 
Come  here  and  look!  There  goes  a  handsome 
young  man !  'Tis  a  pleasure  to  see  him.  Look 
now !  .  .  .  [Looking  at  her  image  in  the  mirror.] 
And  I  imagine  that,  from  the  moment  he  catches 
sight  of  me,  he  keeps  on  gazing  and  gazing  and 
doesn't  take  his  eyes  from  me.  And  then  he  comes 
nearer,  and  still  nearer  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Jumps  up.]  This  minute  you  go  away  from 
the  window ! 

TILLE 

Oh,  he  isn't  looking;  he  isn't  looking  at  all.  He 
doesn't  even  see  me.  Oh,  you  haven't  a  trace  of 
imagination ! 


14  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Sitting  down  again.']  Ah,  what  a  girl !  What 
a  girl! 

TILLE 

You  don't  even  understand  what  it  is  to  dream. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Of  course  not!  Hear  her!  I  don't  know  what 
it  is  to  dream.  I  wish  all  my  bad  dreams  would 
go  into  your  head.  .  .  . 

TILLE 

I  mean  waking  dreams.  To  be  awake  and 
dream  ...  to  sit  here  and  dream  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A  great  happiness  that  must  be,  to  be  sure! 
Leave  off  rather  disturbing  me  and  let  me  read  on. 
And  you  go  away  from  the  window.  It's  not  your 
business  to  sit  there  and  dream.  [With  bitter 
scorn.']  Dream!  [She  reads  once  more.'\  And 
when  they  saw  this  they  east  them  forth  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Oh,  it  is  beautiful  to  dream!  Like  a  lovely 
story.  You  forget  yourself.  You  are  wafted  far 
away.  .  .  .  You  become  a  different  creature. 
Here  I  sit  and  think  and  think  and  suddenly  I  am 
none  other  than  Lady  Rothschild. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

No  more  and  no  less,  eh.'' 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  15 

TILLE 

Rothschild's  bride!  And  why  not!  He  is  rich 
himself  and  doesn't  need  a  dowry.  And  so  I  im- 
agine how  he  fills  great  sacks  with  gold  and  jour- 
neys out  into  the  world  to  seek  a  wife.  And  he 
travels  and  travels  until  he  comes  to  our  town  and 
sees  me  —  he  comes  to  look  at  the  graveyard  and 
finds  me  sitting  by  the  window. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  do  stop  talking.  It  makes  me  quite  sick. 
You  ought  to  be  locked  up  in  a  madhouse. 

TILLE 

And  he  falls  down  upon  his  knees  before  me  and 
cries  out:  I  love  you.  I  am  Rothschild.  Will 
you  be  my  wife.'' 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Will  you  stop?     I'll  throw  something  at  you. 

TILLE 

[Laughs.']  Isn't  it  lovely?  Eh?  And  some- 
times I  imagine  that  a  count  is  coming.  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  ?     A  Christian  —  of  all  things ! 

TILLE 

Oh,  I  merely  imagine  it.  One  may  imagine  any- 
thing. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Fine  imaginations  —  fine !  Like  those  in  my 
lamentations   here:     The  daughters  of  Jerusalem 


16  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

have  boasted  of  their  beauty  and  have  said,  when 
the  Babylonians  come.  .  .  .  May  death  come  upon 
you !  Just  on  a  fast  day  she  has  nothing  better  to 
do  than  to  sit  there  and  imagine  the  devil  knows 
what. 

TILLE 

Well,  what  harm  is  there?  Marriage  is  a  pious 
and  a  Jewish  matter  and  so  is  money.  And  I 
dream  of  marriage  and  of  heaps  of  money.  When 
I  begin  to  think  of  all  that  money  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Stop  talking,  I  tell  you,  stop  talking  and  let  me 
read ! 

TILLE 

Do  let  me  go  on !  You  can  hear  me  tell  what  I 
would  do  if  I  had  all  that  money.  I  tell  you, 
mother,  it  profits  one  to  sell  one's  last  shift  in  order 
to  become  rich.  I  would  rule  the  whole  world.  I 
feel  how  I'm  becoming  clever.  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Fy  on  you!  [Angrily  and  eagerly  she  begins  to 
read  again.']  And  He  hath  made  heavier  my  sor- 
row and  hath  made  a  mockery  of  me  before  all  the 
heathen. 

JUDKE 

[Enters.  He  has  one  deformed  arm  and  one 
deformed  leg.  The  saliva  runs  continually  from 
his  mouth.  Sparse,  thin  beard  and  long,  uncombed 
hair  under  a  torn  cap.  He  is  clad  in  rags.  Weep- 
ing.']    Hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  . 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  1Г 

TILLE 

Look !     What's  the  matter  with  you,  Judke  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Irritably.']     Why  do  you  cry?     What  ails  you? 

JUDKE 

[Weeping.]  Hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  .  buried 
dog.  ...  I  buried  Schutschke.  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A  fine  cause  for  mourning.  [Mocking  him.] 
Hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  . 

[tille  laughs.] 

JUDKE 

[Casts  an  enraged  look  at  her  and  cries  out.] 
Schutschke  dead !  Schutschke  buried.  You  no  laugh. 
.  .  .  [Standing  by  the  bench  with  his  face  to  the 
stove  he  continues  to  zceep.]  I  love  him  .  .  . 
[Breaks  out  in  unconscious  imitation  of  the  voice  of 
the  wailing  widow.]  Why  have  you  deserted  me.'' 
[Throws  himself,  face  downward,  on  the  bench  and 
howls.] 

[tille   laughs  but  interrupts  herself  at  once  and 
lays  her  hand  over  her  mouth.] 

JUDKE 

[Approaches  tille.  His  face  is  distorted  with 
rage.]  You  stop  laughing  or  I  kill  you  ...  I 
throttle  you.  [He  grinds  his  teeth  and  stretches 
out  toward  her  the  clenched  fist  of  his  unimpaired 
right  arm.] 


18  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

TILLE 

[^Jumps  up,  pets  and  soothes  him.']  No^  no, 
Judke.  I'm  not  laughing.  I  didn't  mean  to 
laugh.  It  just  —  just  came  of  itself.  Don't  be 
angry,  and  don't  cry,  Judke.  Don't  cry,  you  poor 
little  creature,  you ! 

JUDKE 

You  always  laugh.     See  it  in  your  eyes. 

TILLE 

I  am  not  laughing.  Only  my  eyes  laugh.  But 
not  I.     I'm  quite  serious.     It's  a  real  pity. 

JUDKE 

I  loved  him  so  .  .  . 

TILLE 

And  he  was  a  very  good  dog. 

JUDKE 

Could  do  anything.  Stand  on  hind  legs.  Give 
paw.     [Weeps.]     Hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Stop  howling !  Stop !  Just  listen  to  that  howl- 
ing! 

JUDKE 

[Angrily.]  Hay!  Hay!  Your  fault  Schutschke 
dead.     You  broke  his  leg. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

If  I'd  only  broken  your  leg,  too ! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  19 

JUDKE 

Hay!  Hay!  Wait.  I  found  money.  Give 
you  nothing.  I  dug  grave  for  Schutschke  and 
found  golden  money.  [He  takes  something  from 
his  pocket  that  he  clasps  in  his  fist.^  See?  But 
I  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

ICries  out.]     What  did  you  find.'' 

TILLE 

[Looks  into  his  hand.]  Oh,  they're  really 
golden  coins.     I  could  swear  they  are  Imperials. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Imperials  you  are  saying?     Imperials?     Many? 

JUDKE 

[Grinning  to  jachne-braine.]  You  see?  [He 
puts  his  hand  back  into  his  pocket.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Where  did  you  find  them?     How  many? 

JUDKE 

[As  before.]     Hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  , 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[To  TILLE.]     Many?     Has  he  many? 

TILLE 

Quite  a  little  pile.  Certainly  more  than  ten. 
[Го  JUDKE.]     Show  them  —     Let's  count  them. 


20  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

JUDKE 

No!     Won't!     She  shan't  see! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

This  minute  you're  to  show  me  what  you've 
found.  [To  TiLLE.]  How  much  is  an  Imperial? 
Is  it  much  money? 

TILLE 

How  do  I  know?  A  great  deal,  I  think.  Fif- 
teen rubles  certainly. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !  Fifteen  rubles !  How  many  did 
you  say  he  had  there?     More  than  ten? 


More  than  ten  certainly,  if  not  even  a  great 
many  more.  A  whole  heap.  Two  hundred  rubles 
perhaps. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Gets  up  and  turns  to  judke  xvith  decision.^ 
This  minute  you  give  up  what  you've  found.  Do 
you  hear  what  your  mother  is  saying  or  not?  This 
minute  turn  it  over !  Two  hundred  rubles !  Woe 
is  me  I  If  you  don't  give  it  to  me  this  minute  in 
kindness,  I'll  get  a  stick  and  leave  not  a  whole  limb 
on  your  body. 

JUDKE 

[Cries  like  one  possessed  with  wild  eyes  and 
foaming  mouth.]     No!  No!  No!     Won't  give! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  21 

TILLE 

[Whispers  to  jachne-braine.]  Do  let  him  be. 
He'll  give  it  later  of  his  own  accord. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !  Two  hundred  rubles !  Did  you 
ever  hear  of  letting  a  crazy  person  keep  two  hun- 
dred rubles.''  I'll  dress  myself  and  run  to  the 
police ! 

JUDKE 

[Beside  himself.]  I'll  throttle  you!  Throttle 
you! 

TILLE 

Let  be  I  Why  must  you  always  provoke  him  ? 
Do  you  want  his  attacks  to  begin  again?  [To 
JUDKE.]  Don't  be  afraid,  Judke.  She  won't  go 
to  the  police. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Who  knows?     Maybe  he  even  stole  it! 

TILLE 

Oh,  why  do  you  always  talk  that  way?  You 
know  very  well  that  he  didn't  steal  it. 

JUDKE 

Didn't  steal!  Stole  yourself!  I  don't  steal. 
[To  TILLE,  as  he  sxciftly  draws  his  hand  from  his 
pocket  and  presses  the  money,  coin  by  coin,  into 
her  hand.]  There  —  all  of  it.  Give  it  to  you! 
Give  her  nothing  —  you  hear  ?  —  nothing  !  I 
throttle  her  !  Stole  herself!  [In  an  attack  of  con- 
vulsions he  falls  down  beside  the  bench.] 


22  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

[tille,  who  has  stood  surprised  with  both  hands 
full  of  money,  slips  the  coins  into  her  pocket 
and  hastens  to  judke.  She  opens  his  shirt, 
then  turns  into  the  kitchen  and  returns  with  a 
vessel  of  water. "] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Searches  judke's  pockets  in  the  meantime  and 
opens  his  hands.]  Nothing  left  on  him.  [She 
tries  to  reach  tille's  pocket.] 

TILLE 

[Busy  with  JUDKE  thrusts  jachne-braine's 
hand  away  with  her  elbow.]  Let  be!  Wait! 
There's  time  enough! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

But  give  me  the  money ! 

TILLE 

Patience!  We'll  think  that  over  further!  We 
must  discuss  that  a  bit  more.  [She  rises  and  places 
the  vessel  on  the  bench.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Are  you  crazy  or  what  ails  you?  ThiiJc  it 
over  indeed!  What  is  there  to  discuss?  This 
minute  you're  to  hand  over  the  money! 

TILLE 

Yes,  if  I  want  to!  If  it  suits  me!  But  I 
haven't  even  the  right.  You  heard  yourself  that 
he  forbade  me  to  give  it  to  you. 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  23 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Are  you  serious? 

TILLE 

Quite  serious.  Since  he  made  me  a  present  of 
the  money  it  belongs  to  me.  And  what  he  forbade 
me  I  mustn't  do.  But  because  I'm  good.  .  .  . 
Come,  hold  out  your  hand  and  I'll  count  into  it. 
[She  places  the  coins  into  jachne-braine's  hand.'] 
One,  two,  three.  .  .  .  Do  you  see,  golden  Im- 
perials. Now  you're  like  a  magnate's  wife.  But 
—  be  —  silent !  Tell  him  nothing.  Wait !  Here's 
another  for  you.  Four.  Now  you're  really  rich. 
For  good  riddance  there  is  one  more.  Five !  And 
now  say  thank  you. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

"  [Holds    her    hand   outstretched.]     And   is    that 
all.''     Are  you  serious? 

TILLE 

[Nods.]     Yes.     You  won't  get  any  more. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  now  I'll  take  the  stick  and  I'll  .  .  .  oh  .  .  . 
Five  pieces  is  лvhat  she  gives  me ! 

TILLE 

You  don't  want  them?  Well,  then  give  them 
back. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

I'll  give  you  what  will  make  you  wonder  where 
you  have  come  from !  Out  with  the  money !  All 
of  it! 


34  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 


TILLE 


People  are  always  discontented,  whatever  you 
do.    Oh! 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


All  of  the  money  you  are  to  give  me!     Or  else, 
look  out!  .  .  . 


CHONE 


[Coatless,  his  ritual  garment  over  shirt  and 
browsers,  girded  with  a  belt,  enters  hastily. '\  What 
is  this  crying  for  ?  It  can  be  heard  outside ! 
What  money?  What's  the  matter?  There  he  lies 
and  she  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Tell  her  to  turn  over  the  money  at  once.  Two 
hundred  rubles.     Woe  is  me! 

[tille  goes  to  the  window  and  closes  if.] 

CHONE 

What  money?  What  two  hundred  rubles? 
What  chatter  is  this? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Tell  her  to  turn  it  over!  Judke  found  it! 
What  right  has  she  to  collect  it? 

TILLE 

That's  not  the  way  it  is.  I  collected  nothing. 
He  gave  it  to  me  himself. 

CHONE 

{^Spits.l  I  cannot  make  head  or  tail  of  your 
talk.     Will  you  explain  clearly  at  last? 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  25 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Listen  to  his  words !  Suddenly  he  has  stopped 
understanding.  What  is  it  you  don't  understand? 
What?  .  .  .  Judke  buried  the  dog  and  found 
golden  Imperials.  ...  Is  that  clear?  Have  you 
understood  now?  And  now  tell  her  she  is  to  give 
up  the  money.  What  right  has  she  to  take  it? 
Have  you  understood  at  last?  Why  do  you  stand 
there  like  a  block  of  wood?  Why  do  you  let  her 
stand  there?  [To  tille.]  Out  with  the  money! 
Do  you  hear? 

CHONE 

Won't  you  wait  a  second  and  let  me  consider? 
Judke  has  buried  the  dog  and  found  golden  Im- 
perials. .  .  .  Where  did  he  bury  him?  Where  did 
he  find  the  coins? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Do  I  know  ?  .  .  .  Could  I  even  speak  to  him  ? 

CHONE 

[Turning  his  eyes  to  tille.]  Where  did  he 
bury  him?     Where  did  he  find  them? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Mockingly. "]  Where  did  he  bury  him  ?  Where 
did  he  find  them?  Why  does  that  interest  you  so? 
He  has  made  a  find  —  and  that's  enough.  Now 
see  to  it  — 

CHONE 

Oh,  you  wise  one!  Perhaps  there  is  in  that 
place  .  .  . 


26  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

TILLE 

Yes !     Truly !     [She  hastens  to  judke.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  does  that  mean:  Perhaps  there  is  .  .  . 

CHONE 

[Looks  about  to  see  that  no  strange  ears  are  lis- 
tening and  whispers.^  Perhaps  there  is  in  that 
place  —  a  treasure  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A —  A —  [She  drops  on  a  chair. '\  Ah,  I  feel 
sick!     My  legs  give  way  under  me.     It's  true. 

TILLE 

Judke,  Judke!  Don't  you  hear!  He  hasn't 
come  to  himself  yet. 

CHONE 

How  is  it  that  it  didn't  occur  to  you  to  ask  at 
once !  May  you  burn  .  .  . !  Ay,  quarrel  —  that's 
what  you  can  do.  I'll  beat  you  to  death!  I'll 
tear  you  limb  from  limb.  And  just  to-day  the 
graveyard  is  full  of  people. 

TILLE 

He  is  sure  to  have  filled  the  hole.  So  why  do 
you  cry  out.'' 

CHONE 

She  wants  to  be  in  the  right,  in  addition !  Why 
do  I  cry  out?  What?  .  .  .  And  now  hand  over 
the   money  at  once!     Turn   it  over  this   minute! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  27 

[To  JACHNE-BRAiNE.]     How  mucH  did  he   find? 
How  much? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Did  I  count  it?     Here  are  five. 

TILLE 

And  those  I  presented  to  her. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Do  you  hear  those  words?  Behold  our  bene- 
factress !  A  whole  heap  she  has  on  her  still ! 
More  than  ten  pieces  certainly. 

CHONE 

[Grasps  the  five  coins  like  a  hungry  man  and 
looks  at  them.l  Imperials  !  Imperials !  A  treas- 
ure! Assuredly  a  treasure.  Oh,  that  I  might 
bury  you  all  on  one  day!  [To  tille.]  Out  with 
the  money !     Turn  it  over  to  me  this  minute ! 

TILLE 

Do  you  really  mean  that?  Come,  you  are  jest- 
ing! 

CHONE 

You  will  give  me  all  the  money  you  have  in  your 
pocket.     [With  clenched  teeih-l     Out  with  it! 

TILLB 

I'd  be  a  fool  to  do  that! 
[cHONE  rushes  toward  Лег.] 


28  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

TILLE 

[Steps  swiftly  between  the  table  and  the  sofa.'\ 
I  am  to  give  you  all  the  money  and  then  perish  until 
I  get  a  kopek,  and  beg  you  for  every  trifle.  Judke 
made  me  a  present  of  the  money,  and  so  it  is  mine. 
I  won't  have  it  taken  from  me.  It  is  my  dowry 
now.  Did  you  provide  me  with  one  perhaps?  I 
don't  want  to  stay  single  till  I'm  old  and  grey.  A 
dowry  is  what  I  must  have.  Give  me  my  dowry ! 
Give  me  my  dowry! 

CHONE 

Yes  .  .  .  but  why  did  you  take  it  all?  We  have 
need  of  it  too. 

TILLE 

I  did  not  take  it  all.     You  have  a  stare. 

CHONE 

The  five  Imperials? 

TILLE 

It's  enough  for  you.  You'll  soon  be  rid  of  me. 
And  if  you  need  more  you  will  always  be  able  to 
get  it  in  my  house.  More  easily  than  I  in  yours. 
I  don't  understand  at  all  why  you  should  want  to 
take  the  money  from  me !  By  what  right  ?  What 
do  I  want  to  do  with  it?  Provide  for  myself.  I 
just  want  to  buy  ever  so  modest  a  husband. 

CHONE 

[To  JACHNE-BRAiNE.]     What  do  you  say  to  your 

daughter,  eh? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

May  she  burst  ...  oh,  my  God,  my  God! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE 

CHONE 

I  only  want  to  avoid  .  .  . 


Come  now !     Don't  trouble  yourself.     You  know 
that  nothing  comes  back  from  the  graveyard. 

[juDKE  arises  suddenly.^ 

TILLE 

Judke    is    getting    up.     You    had    better    ask 
him  .  .  . 

CHONE 

You  won't  escape  me  anyhow!     Hay,  Judke! 
[judke  goes  to  the  door.'\ 

CHONE 

Judke,  where  did  you  find  the  Imperials? 
[judke  goes  on.] 

CHONE 

Come  here,  I  tell  you!     Where  did  you  bury 
Schutschke .'' 

JUDKE 

[At  the  door.'\     Won't  tell. 

CHONE 

Why  not  tell.''     I  command  you! 

JUDKE 

Won't. 


30  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

CHONE 

Where  was  it?  In  the  graveyard?  Behind  the 
wall?     On  the  old  field?     Or  on  the  new  one? 

JUDKE 

[Grinning.']     Hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  .! 

CHONE 

[Takes  off  his  belt.']  You  will  tell  me  at  once. 
If  not  —  do  you  see  this  belt?  I'll  beat  you  black 
and  blue. 

JUDKE 

[Clenches  his  fist  and  hisses.]  Won't  tell. 
[He  runs  out.] 

TILLE 

[About  to  follow  him.]  He'll  tell  me;  I'll  run 
after  him. 

CHONE 

Aha!     You  want  to  sneak  away,  do  you? 

TILLE 

I  don't  have  to  sneak  oflP.  But  we  ought  to 
know  where  the  hole  is.  We  ought  to  see  how 
things  look  here.  Imagine,  there  is  a  whole  treas- 
ure there! 

CHONE 

First  I  want  the  money  that  you  have! 

TILLE 

You're  starting  again !  And  in  the  meantime 
Judke  runs  off  and  we  won't  find  him.  [She  comes 
from  behind  the  table  and  starts  for  the  door.] 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  31 


CHONE 


[Blocks    her    path.']     You    will    not    leave    the 
room  till  you've  given  me  all  the  money. 


But  he  may  even  begin  to  dig  again  and  then 
some  one  may  see  him. 

CHONE 

Give  me  the  Imperials! 

TILLE 

I  am  only  thinking  of  your  advantage  now.  I 
have  this  money. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Let  her  be  now!  He  may  really  begin  to  dig 
and  then  others  will  see  it. 

TILLE 

A  whole  treasure  may  perhaps  be  lying  there, 
and  he  thinks  he  needs  just  the  few  coins  that  I 
have. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You'd  better  run  after  Judke  and  let  her  go 
along. 

CHONE 

First  I  want  the  money  that  she  is  hiding. 

TILLE 

I  could  easily  jump  through  the  window,  but  if 
it  is  nothing  to  him  to  lose  the  treasure,  it  need 
be  nothing  to  me  either.     Think  what  it  means  — 


32  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

a  treasure!     No,  really,  I'll  jump  out  of  the  win- 
dow!    \^She  approaches  the  "window.} 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Look,  she'll  really  do  it! 
[cHONE  rushes  toward  tille.] 

JUDKE 

l^Returns  weeping.}     Hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  .  hu  .  .  . 
[/re  extreme  consternation   they  slowly   turn  upon 
him  their  astonished  and  questioning  eyes.} 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Who  is  the  first  to  find  words.]  ^\Tiat's  wrong 
with  you  again  ?  What  has  happened  there  ?  Has 
any  one  robbed  you  of  anything? 

JUDKE 

I  can't  find  Schutschke's  grave. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

There  you  are! 

CHONE 

What  does  it  mean,  you  can't  find  it? 

JUDKE 

Forgot  where  I  buried  him. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

O,  woe  is  me! 

TILLE 

There  you  have  your  treasure  now! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  S3 

CHONE 

What  does  it  mean  —  forgotten  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

He  lies ! 

JUDKE 

{^Angrily.']     Hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  .  hay  .  .  . 

TILLE 

He  doesn't  lie.  Is  it  the  first  time  that  he  for- 
gets things  after  one  of  his  attacks? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[In  despair.l  That's  what  you  get  for  bother- 
ing with  crazy  Judke! 

CHONE 

Can't  you  remember  at  all?  Just  whereabouts 
on  the  graveyard  was  it  or  where  behind  the  grave- 
yard? 

JUDKE 

I  buried  him  deep  in  the  earth,  filled  the  hole, 
put  up  a  little  board  —  gravestone  —  cut  into  it 
with  my  knife:  "  Schutschke,  rest  in  peace."  I 
don't  know  where  any  more  —  I  .  .  .  maybe  wall 
.  .  .  maybe  tree  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Shall  we  help  you  search? 

JUDKE 

I  don't  know  where.  I  find  no  more.  .  .  . 
[Stretches  himself  out   on   the  bench  and  whines. 


34  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

ThrougK  the  open  door  at  the  right  wailing  and 
weeping  are  heard  again.^ 

TILLE 

Now  we  must  go  and  look  for  the  little  board  all 
over  the  graveyard  and  all  around  it. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Of  all  things !     You  can  look  long  and  hard ! 

TILLE 

You  think  there's  not  enough  in  it,  eh? 

CHONE 

Who  knows  whether  any  Imperials  are  left  there 
or  whether  he  took  them  all  with  him? 

TILLE 

Who  could  make  head  or  tail  of  what  he  said  ? 

CHONE 

{^Enraged."]  Oh,  no,  you  couldn't  do  that!  But 
you  could  drive  him  into  convulsions  —  that's  what 
you  could  do! 

TILLE 

Why  do  you  cry  out?  It  is  not  my  fault  that 
he  fell  into  convulsions. 

CHONE 

It  was  certainly  you  who  began  at  him!  You! 
Didn't  you  have  to  hurry  to  wrench  the  Imperials 
from  him! 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  85 


The  same  thing  over  and  over  again !  I 
wrenched  nothing  frona  him  and  I  didn't  provoke 
him.     Mother  .  .  . 

CHONE 

May  you  be  all  struck  down  on  the  same  day ! 
[To  TiLLE.]  But  mark  this:  I  have  no  time  for 
you  now  and  no  strength,  but  I  will  get  the  money 
out  of  you  to  the  last  kopek.  You  will  count  it 
out  to  me  on  this  very  table.  I'll  beat  you  to 
death ! 

TILLE 

Oho! 

CHONE 

Be  assured  that  you'll  give  it  back  to  me  to  the 
last  kopek.  I  have  another  burial  to  attend  to 
now.  Oh,  that  I  could  bury  you  all  soon !  And 
don't  go  running  about  the  graveyard  now  seeking 
Imperials;  there  are  too  many  people.  And  hold 
your  tongues,  wiseacres  that  you  are !      [Exit.^ 

TILLE 

He  wants  to  take  it  away  from  me.     A  lot  will 

he  get.  [She  jumps  suddenly  on  the  bed,  takes 
down  the  things  that  are  hanging  against  the  wall, 
a  coat  and  a  hat,  and  begins  dressing  herself  in 
front  of  the  mirror.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Where  are  you  running  to?  Where  are  you 
going.? 


36  THE  TREASURE  [Act  I 

TILLB 

To  find  a  safe  place  for  the  money  and  provide 
for  myself! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Where  are  you  going  with  the  money  ?  To  noise 
it  all  about  in  the  city?  Hand  the  money  over  to 
me! 

TILLE 

Don't  begin  again,  mother!  Don't  begin  it  all 
over  again !  Oh,  I  tell  you,  it's  a  peculiar  sensa- 
tion —  having  money  in  one's  pocket.  Do  you 
know,  mother,  money  warms  you.  If  you  knew 
how  warm  and  safe  I  feel.  Like  a  new  human 
being  in  a  new  skin.  Think  of  it!  Tille  Chone, 
the  grave-digger's  daughter,  the  eternal  beggar, 
suddenly  has  money  in  her  pocket!  [She  taps  her 
pocket.']  Hear  how  it  jingles!  And  Judke  will 
remember  and  we  will  end  by  finding  the  whole 
treasure !  Oh,  mother,  the  whole  treasure  !  Oh  — 
oh  —  it  makes  me  dizzy !  Why,  we  may  become 
rich  beyond  imagination,  we  may  become  million- 
aires!    Ah,  I'll  turn  the  whole  world  upside  down. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Hear  her  trying  to  talk  me  into  confusion!  Do 
you  think  you'll  get  out  of  it.'' 

TILLE 

So,  now  I'm  ready.  Dressed  and  —  elegant! 
To  be  sure  my  hat  is  ready  to  be  thrown  on  the 
dunghill,  and  so  is  the  coat  and  the  gown  above 
all.     But  I  have  money  now.     Mother,  I  feel  that 


Act  I]  THE  TREASURE  37 

I  must  give  you  a  kiss.     [She  runs  up  to  Her  and 
embraces  Aer.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Thrusts  her  away.]  Go  away  from  me.  Go 
in  kindness,  I  advise  you.  [Trying  to  reach 
tille's  pocket.] 

TILLE 

Hay!  Let  that  be.  [Pushes  her  hand  away.] 
That's  theft.  That's  not  permitted.  Now  then, 
good-bye !  Good-bye,  Judke !  Don't  cry,  Judke, 
and  remember!  [To  jachne-braine.]  And  if 
he  goes  out  on  the  graveyard  —  follow  him !  Don't 
fall  asleep  over  your  lamentations.  I'll  be  back 
later.     [Hastens  out.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  what  a  creature  she  is!  What  a  creature! 
Oh,  woe  is  me!  [The  sound  of  wailing  now  comes 
in  from  the  side  of  the  graveyard,  jachne- 
braine  as  though  hut  now  awakened  goes  groan- 
ing to  the  window  and  opens  it.  The  wailing  is 
now  clearly  heard.  She  stands  there  for  a  space, 
moans,  and  resumes  her  seat.]  Treasures  !  Treas- 
ures !  There  is  another  burying !  Oh !  Oh !  Oh ! 
[She  sits  down  and  begins  to  read.] 


CURTAIN 


ACT  II 

The  same  room  in  the  dusk  of  evening.  The  table 
is  covered  with  an  old  table-cloth.  Upon  it 
are  a  lit  lamp,  a  samovar,  a  loaf  of  bread, 
some  plates,  spoons  and  knives,  jachne- 
BRAiNE  sits  by  the  window  at  the  right,  sup- 
porting her  head  with  her  hand,  judke  sits 
on  the  bench. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Father  will  soon  be  back  from  the  praying  and 
she  hasn't  returned  yet.  Where  could  she  have 
vanished  to?  Where?  You  might  go  to  your 
aunt  and  see. 

JUDKE 

'[Angrily. 1     She'll  come  herself. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Ah,  my  heart  tells  me  that  she'll  noise  it  abroad 
everywhere.  And  if  people  hear  of  it,  луе'И  have 
the  whole  town  coming  here  to-day.  They  will  all 
come  and  search.  W^hy  do  you  sit  there?  Why 
don't  you  go  yourself  and  look  for  it? 

JUDKE 

I  can't  find.     I  don't  know.     I  forgot.     Not  my 

business. 

38 


Act  IIJ  THE  TREASURE  39 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Not  his  business!  Forgotten  is  what  he  has! 
The  heap  of  wretchedness !  Ah,  луЬа1  children ! 
And  the  other  one  surely  gads  about  and  chatters. 
Well,  father  will  show  her ! 

[A  carriage  is  heard  drawing  up.  Then  the  outer 
door  slams.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Jumps  up.]     Who  is  coming  there? 

[tille  enters.  She  wears  a  pretentious  new  gown, 
a  lace  hat  with  tall  feathers,  a  sunshade  of  lace. 
She  carries  white  gloves  in  one  hand,  a  band- 
box and  a  package  in  the  other.  She  has  rings 
on  two  fingers  of  her  left  hand  and  earrings  in 
her  ears,  jachne-braine  a7id  judke  are 
dumb  with  astonishment,  tille  bursts  out 
into  loud  laughter.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Recovering  herself.]  Oh,  dear  me,  dear  me ! 
Behold  how  she  looks  I  Maybe  you  even  came  in 
a  carriage? 

TILLE 

[Laughing.]  Who  else?  In  a  cab.  Now, 
motlier,  only  the  bridegroom  is  lacking.  My  wed- 
ding clothes  I  have.  [JValks  up  and  down  imi- 
tating the  gait  of  a  lady  of  fashion.] 

JUDKE 

[Laughs.]  Ho — ho — hcc — hee  I  [He  continues 
laughing,  explosively,  from  time  to  time.] 


40  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 


TILLE 


[Turning  about.l  How  do  you  like  me?  How 
do  you  like  the  gown?  I  bought  it  at  Seldo- 
witch's. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

At  S  eldo witch's  ? 

TILLE 

Well,  what  do  you  think?  That  I  would  go  to 
the  first  comer?  The  gown  was  made  for  Schmer- 
ling's  daughter,  who  died  this  week  just  before 
her  wedding.  I  bought  it  for  a  mere  song.  And 
do  look  at  the  hat  —  it's  a  model  straight  from 
Paris. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me!  I  don't  see  how  one  can  have  the 
boldness  to  buy  such  a  hat  for  oneself!  God 
knows  what  it  cost. 

TILLE 

Even  so !  Haven't  I  the  money  ?  Look  how 
becoming  it  is  to  me.  Lovely,  eh?  [Opens  the 
band-box.^  And  here  I  have  —  look  and  admire 
it  —  a  cloak !     Straight  from  Gershunski. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  are  crazy !     They  didn't  show  you  the  door  ? 

TILLE 

No  one  shows  you  the  door  if  you  pay  with  good 
money.  Look  how  well  the  cloak  fits  me,  as  though 
it  had  been  made  to  order.  Don't  you  think  so? 
You  will  see  when  I  put  on  the  dress  and  the  cloak 
and  the  hat.  .  .  .  And  there  I  have  something  else ! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  41 

The  sunshade.     It's  of  silk.  .  .  .  Do  look  at  the 
lace  —  and  at  the  gloves  here  —  fine  kid ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Bursts  out.]  Woe  is  me!  Have  you  spent  all 
the  money.'' 

TILLE 

Wait!     The  main  thing  is  yet  to  come. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Frightened.']     What  is  yet  to  come? 

TILLE 

[Shaking  the  earrings.]  See  how  it  sparkles 
and  gleams !  And  this  is  diamond  ring  number 
one,  and  this  diamond  ring  number  two.  And 
now:  What  time  is  it?  [She  displays  a  gold 
•watch  and  chain.]  Well,  how  do  you  like  it?  And 
now  do  you  tliink  this  is  all?  I  have  ordered  an- 
other gown  at  Seldowitch's. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

All  the  money!     All  the  money! 

TILLE 

Have  patience.  I  have  something  else.  But 
that  is  for  you.  She  opens  the  package.  There, 
look,  stuff  for  a  dress  for  you  —  real,  pure  wool. 
Twelve  yards.  It  cost  a  lot  of  money.  Just  look 
at  the  kind  of  stuff  it  is ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Throws  the  cloth  from  her.]  May  you  break 
your  neck  together  with  the  stuff!  Who  begged 
you  for  it?     Who? 


Ш  THE  TREASURE  [Лет  II 

TILLE 

Only  my  good  heart.  Because  I  am  a  good 
daughter.  How  can  any  one  bear  to  buy  for  him- 
self alone.''  l^She  lifts  up  the  cloth  from  the  floor 
and  dusts  it.^  All  the  days  of  your  life  you've 
not  worn  such  woollen  cloth  and  now  you  thгoлv  it 
on  the  ground.  It  is  a  crime,  surely.  Come  here, 
Judke,  and  look  at  this !  It's  for  suits  of  clothes 
for  father  and  you.     Princely  garments ! 

JUDKE 

[Climbs  from  the  bench,  admires  the  cloth,  gig- 
gling, and  strokes  it  with  his  hand.^  Beautiful  — 
beautiful !  Dress  myself  up  fine !  We'll  go  walk- 
ing. Arm  in  arm  .  .  .  [Takes  her  arm  and  walks 
■up  and  down  the  room  with  her.  Then  he  remains 
standing  and  giggling  admires,  touching  and  snif- 
fing at  them,  her  new  clothes.^ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Who  is  in  a  maze  of  astonishment.']  All  the 
money!     What's  the  sense  of  that.'' 

TILbE 

Sense!     Sense!     Must  everything  be  sensible.'* 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A  fine  answer !  Oh,  it's  too  much !  There's 
your  dowry  now !  Give  me  my  doAvry !  she  cries, 
give  me  my  dowry,  and  then  goes  and  throлvs  the 
money  away,  to  the  four  лvinds,  for  nothing,  to 
the  devil !  And  by  this  time  surely  the  whole  city 
knows  it  too. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  43 

TILbE 

How  then?  You  should  have  seen.  The  whole 
street  was  thick  with  people.  From  all  corners 
they  came  running  to  see  the  Imperials. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh^  I'll  kill  myself!  Oh,  I'll  take  whatever 
comes  to  my  hand  and  split  your  head !  The  whole 
city  will  come  here  now  to  look  for  the  treasure ! 


Calm  yourself;  no  one  will  come.  I'm  not  so 
stupid  as  to  tell  people  that  the  treasure  is  still 
lying  somewhere  in  the  graveyard !  No,  I  did  far 
better.  I  told  them  that  we  have  it  already.  You 
should  have  seen!  Now  they  all  believe  we  are 
millionaires. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A  great  happiness  for  you,  surely,  to  persuade 
them  of  it.  Have  you  considered  what  your  chat- 
ter may  end  in.'' 

TILLE 

And  suppose  I  have  considered?  What  then? 
And  if  I  have  considered  it  twenty  times  over  — 
what  of  it? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Wliat  of  it?  People  Avill  demand  of  millionaires 
that  they  behave  like  millionaires ! 

TILLE 

I  have  the  nicest  answers  to  that  question  — 
quite  a  number.      In  the  first  place:  there  are  eco- 


44  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

nomical  millionaires  in  the  world.     Well,  we're  that 
kind.     In  the  second  place  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !  A  fine  mess  she  has  made  for  us ! 
Your  father  will  lose  his  position.  The  city  won't 
let  an  economical  millionaire  remain  grave-digger. 
On  account  of  you  we'll  all  have  to  go  begging  yet. 

TILLE 

Oh,  don't  let's  have  more  wailing!  Why  should 
it  cost  him  his  position?  Does  he  deprive  any  one 
else  of  it.''  Does  he  ask  for  more  wages.''  And 
if  he's  a  miserly  millionaire,  who  is  harmed  by 
that.''  And,  in  the  second  place  —  do  try  to  un- 
derstand —  in  the  second  place,  we  will  hunt  for 
the  treasure  in  the  meantime.  And  Judke  will 
probably  end  by  remembering,  anyhow. 

JUDKE 

Can't  at  all. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Yes,  and  what  happens  if  you  find  nothing  but 
Schutschke's  body.''  If  nothing  more  can  be  found 
but  the  Imperials  which  Judke  brought  and  which 
are  now  gone,  too.'' 

TILLE 

Well,  if  everything  fails  .  .  .  [she  stands  lost 
in  thought  for  a  space^  .  .  .  then  at  all  events  I 
was  for  a  little  while  a  stingy  millionaire's  daugh- 
ter. I'll  dress  myself  up  in  my  gown  and  coat 
and  hat,  with  my  earrings  and  gloves  and  sunshade 
—  I  won't  put  the  gloves  on  but  hold  them  in  шу 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  45 

hand  so  that  the  rings  may  be  seen.  Ah,  how  I'll 
dress  myself  up  —  so  stylish  —  and  I'll  take  a 
walk  along  the  streets  and  the  boulevard  and  you'll 
see  —  people  will  fairly  stand  on  their  heads ! 
Great  and  small  will  gaze  after  me ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Ohj  she's  clean  crazy,  God  knows ! 

TILLE 

Oh,  just  for  a  moment  to  feel  like  the  daughter 
of  a  millionaire,  to  feel  that  all  people  look  at  you 
and  run  after  you. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

They  run  after  crazy  Zipa,  too.  That's  the  way 
they'll  run  after  you  —  yes ! 

TILLE 

You  don't  know  how  fine  it  is!  If  you  could 
only  have  been  there !  How  they  all  looked  at  me  ! 
With  what  respect!  This  is  the  way  I  walked 
with  my  head  high  and  with  an  expression  .  .  . 
this  way.  .  .  .  Oh,  how  well  I  could  act  the  part 
of  a  millionaire's  daughter!  And  you'll  see!  I'll 
be  one  yet! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Well,  what  do  you  say  to  that?  Of  what  are 
you  persuading  yourself .»*     What.»* 

TILLE 

Oh,  you  don't  understand  that!  You  don't  un- 
derstand that! 


46  THE  Treasure  [act  ir 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  if  nothing  comes  of  the  whole  business,  how 
will  you  look  then?  Will  you  be  anxious  then  to 
show  yourself  on  the  street? 

TILLE 

Always  how  and  why  and  wherefore !  .  .  .  The 
devil  take  it!  For  the  morrow  let  God  trouble 
borrow!  In  the  meantime  I'm  a  millionaire!  Oh, 
what  a  lovely  gown  I've  ordered!  I  don't  know 
myself  where  I  get  my  knowledge  of  the  fashions. 
I  suppose  it  is  because  if  one  has  money  one  has 
good  taste  too. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  could  find  no  better  time  either  to  trick 
yourself  out  than  a  fast  day. 

TILLE 

Didn't  the  merchants  sell  me  their  wares?  For 
what  purpose  do  they  sit  in  their  shops  to-day? 
If  they  hadn't  been  sitting  there  I  might  not  have 
bought  anything  at  all.  For  as  I  Avent  along  I 
didn't  really  know  лvhether  I  should  spend  the 
money  or  carry  it  to  the  bank.  But  when  I  passed 
by  Seldowitch's  and  saw  exhibited  in  the  window 
the  gown  for  Schmerling's  daughter  at  half  price 
—  then  I  said  to  myself:  Ah,  one  has  only  one  life 
to  live !  And  where  is  it  written  that  Tille,  the 
daughter  of  Chone  the  grave-digger,  must  go  about 
like  a  beggar  all  her  life  long?  What  will  be,  will 
be.     The  money  is  found,  whatever  happens. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  considered  well  not  to  tell  us  that! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  47 


TILLE 


And  then  suddenly  the  desire  overcame  me  to 
play  the  part  of  a  millionaire!  Quite  simply! 
The  thought  darted  through  my  mind.  And  the 
shops  were  open  round  about  .  .  . 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


One  would  think  you  are  fasting.     Where  did 
you  take  the  strength  from  the  whole  day.''  .  .  . 


TILLE 


Ha,  ha,  ha !  Millionaires  don't  fast.  From  the 
Parisian  modiste's  I  went  to  Leon's  confectionery 
shop  and  ordered  something. 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


May  it  jump  out  at  your  throat!  That  you  had 
choked  at  the  first  bite!  Go  out  of  my  sight,  you 
renegade,  or  I'll  scratch  your  eyes  out!  Oh, 
I  — I—. 


TILLE 


[Laughs.^  And  oh,  how  delightful  the  refresh- 
ment was  after  fasting !  Wouldn't  you  like  to  eat 
something  too?     Come  with  me  and  I'll  treat  you. 


JACHNE-BRAINB 


May  death  come  upon  you !     Oh,  my  God !    May 
He  treat  you  -with  wounds  !     What  a  wench ! 


TILLE 


Well,  as  you  please!  Ah,  but  it's  splendid  to 
have  a  great  deal  of  money !  And  come  quickly, 
mother,  quickly,  and  I'll  tell  you  something  in  con- 


48  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

fidence.     If  I  wanted  to  now  ...  I  could  have  a 
dozen  men. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

There  she  is !  That's  all  she  has  in  her  mind  — 
men  .  .  .  men ! 

TILLE 

Don't  you  know  that,  mother.''  That's  the  main 
thing ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Fy  upon  you  and  your  thoughts !  Well  it  is  for 
you  that  I  haven't  the  strength  now,  otherwise  — 
[Гйе  opening  of  the  outer  door  is  heard.']  There 
comes  your  father  now  from  the  praying  .  .  . 

CHONB 

[In  a  worn,  greasy  black  coat  over  his  ritual 
garment,  a  stick  in  his  hand,  enters  very  excit- 
edly."]  Well,  didn't  I  tell  you!  .  .  .  [He  sees 
TILLE  and  remains  standing  open-mouthed.'} 
Look  at  her,  truly !  How  she  is  tricked  out ! 
[tille  laughs  again."] 

CHONE 

[To  JACHNE-BRAINE.]  Do  you  know  what  she 
has  done.''     She'll  end  by  ruining  us  entirely! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  is  it?     What  has  happened? 

CHONE 

[To  TILLE.]  I'll  tear  those  things  on  you  to 
rags!     I'll  drive  you  out  of  the  house! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  49 

TILLE 

Why  do  you  cry  so?  What  have  I  done  that  is 
so  terrible? 

CHONE 

She  asks !  —  the  shameless  one !  She  has 
trumpeted  it  forth  in  the  whole  city  that  we  have 
found  a  treasure.  She's  thrown  the  money  about 
just  as  .  .  ,  just  as  if  it  were  true  really!  And 
now  she  asks  what  she's  done ! 

TILLE 

Well,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  what? 

CHONE 

Do  you  hear  her?  She  asks!  You  lump  of 
clay  with  two  eyes !  You  animal  without  under- 
standing!    Black  and  blue  will  I  beat  you. 

TILLE 

You  will,  you  will.  .  .  .  Why  don't  you  rather 
sit  down  and  drink  your  tea  and  break  your  fast. 

CHONE 

But  you  have  already  broken  your  fast,  haven't 
you  —  at  the  confectioner's  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Even  that  you  know  already? 

CHONE 

What  do  you  think?  The  whole  town  is  speak- 
ing of  it!  In  the  synagogue  they  fairly  stood  on 
their   heads.     Do   you   think   I    could   pray?     Do 


50  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

you  think  anybody  at  all  could  pray?  No  one 
talked  of  anything  else  but  of  her  and  of  her  treas- 
ure! Was  there  anybody  that  didn't  come  to  me 
and  pump  me?  The  whole  synagogue  stood  about 
me.  I  had  to  sit  down  on  the  first  bench  next  to 
Soskin. 

TILLE 

Next  to  the  rich  Soskin  ?  What  are  you  protest- 
ing about,  then?  Haven't  I  brought  honour  upon 
you?  Did  you  ever  dream  of  sitting  in  the  first 
row  among  the  rich? 

CHONE 

I  thank  you  for  the  honour,  my  clever  daughter. 
Had  you  rather  broken  your  neck  before  you  pro- 
cured this  honour  for  me !  What  am  I  to  do  to- 
morrow, when  people  discover  that  I  have  found 
no  treasure? 

TILLE 

Then  you  can  take  up  your  station  at  the  door 
again.  In  the  meantime  you  did  sit  in  the  first 
row  next  to  a  rich  man.     What  did  you  lose  by  it? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

That's  what  she  always  asks:  What  one  is 
losing ! 

CHONE 

I  could  well  have  done  without  sitting  in  the 
first  row.  Do  you  understand?  Why  did  you 
have  to  chatter?  Why  did  you  have  to  run  off 
suddenly  and  trick  yourself  out  and  eat  at  the  con- 
fectioner's and  drive  in  a  cab?  What  right  had 
you  to  the  money? 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  51 

TILLE 

We  settled  that  question  once  before. 

CHONE 

How  settled  it?  Who  settled  it?  You  will 
come  out  with  the  whole  money  yet!  You'll  carry 
all  those  things  back  and  bring  me  the  money. 


Do  you  tell  them,  Judke:  the  money  is  mine, 
isn't  it? 

JUDKE 

Gave  it  to  you  ...  to  you  .  .  .  all  .  .  . 

CHONE 

But  I'll  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Chone,  you  forget  that  you  have  been  fasting. 
Go,  wash  your  hands  and  eat.  Drink  a  glass  of 
tea.  [She  pours  the  tea.']  Oi,  oi!  I  can  hardly 
move  my  limbs.  This  business  is  a  fine  addition 
to  our  fasting. 

CHONE 

I've  had  enough  now!  All  this  excitement  has 
been  enough  for  me.  [^Sits  down  at  the  table  and 
drinks  tea.]  And  besides,  after  the  evening 
prayer  the  sexton  brought  whiskey  and  cakes.  We 
drank  —  the  Rabbi  and  Soskin  and  the  president 
of  the  congregation  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Do  you  see?  Do  you  see?  You  owe  me  that, 
too! 


S2  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

CHONE 

[With  contempt.]  I  won't  fail  to  repay  yoUj 
either.  You'll  feel  my  gratitude  in  your  bones. 
Yes,  if  it  were  true,  if  I  really  had  the  treasure  in 
my  pocket,  what  would  I  have  cared  .^  But  how 
will  I  face  the  world  to-morrow?  Why  did  you 
have  to  blab?  It  grew  dark  before  my  eyes  when 
I  heard  them  talking  of  the  treasure.  First  I 
thought  —  they  know  that  we  haven't  found  it 
yet  .  .  . 

TILLE 

And  you  thought,  of  course,  the  whole  town  will 
rush  to  the  graveyard  to  look  for  it? 

CHONE 

How?  My  arms  and  legs  were  petrified  with 
fright.  But  when  I  heard  them  speak  of  the  treas- 
ure as  already  found,  I  wanted  to  deny  it,  to  swear 
there  was  nothing.  But  they  told  me  it  was  too 
late  for  any  pretence,  that  my  little  daughter  .  .  . ! 
Oh,  that  I  may  be  delivered  from  her  soon! 

TILLE 

Amen  I 

CHONE 

Be  silent,  or  .  .  . 

TILLE 

I  mean  that  you  ought  to  marry  me  off  soon. 
Why  do  you  grow  so  angry? 

CHONE 

Marry  you  ?  Yes,  to  death !  They  told  me  that 
my  little  daughter  had  spent  a  great  sum  for 
clothes  and  jewels  in  the  best  shops.     I  opened  my 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  53 

mouth  and  my  ears.  I  didn't  know  anything  about 
it.  I  told  them  the  truth.  All  I  know  about  is  a 
few  Imperials,  and  I  was  ashamed  to  say  that  I 
didn't  even  know  how  many,  because  my  dear 
daughter  had  pocketed  everything.  May  the  Evil 
One  pocket  you! 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

{^Bitterly.]     Amen. 

CHONE 

And  so  I  said,  I  know  there  were  ten  to  fifteen 
Imperials,  perhaps  even  fewer.  But  they  laughed 
me  to  scorn!  You  don't  know  how  to  lie,  Reb 
Chone,  they  said.  Reb  Chone,  that's  what  they 
said,  not  simply  Chone. 

TILLE 

[Laughs.'\     Hurra ! 

CHONE 

[Throwing  her  an  angry  glance."]  There's  no 
use  lying,  they  said  to  me.  Your  daughter  spent 
twice  that  amount  to-day.  I  didn't  know,  of 
course,  what  to  answer  to  that.  I  stammered  and 
stuttered,  and  they  all  wished  me  happiness  and 
squeezed  my  hand  and  I  stood  there  and  didn't 
know  whether  I  was  dreaming  or  had  gone  crazy. 
And  then  came  the  Rabbi  and  said  he  had  some- 
thing to  consult  me  about. 

TILLE 

[Breaks  out  in  loud  ЫидЫст."]  Surely  he  wants 
you  to  take  his  part  against  the  other  Rabbi  who 
has  been  sent  for. 


54  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

CHONE 

And  then  came  Soskin  and  wanted  to  consult  me 
too. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Soskin  ?  —  Ah,  the  morsels  stick  in  my  throat ! 

TILLE 

I  suppose  he  wants  you  to  be  his  partner !  Ha, 
ha,  ha! 

CHONE 

I  wish  I  knew  as  well  what  to  think  of  you  as  I 
know  what  to  say  to  them!  [Cries  out.]  I'd  like 
to  tear  you  to  pieces!  What  have  you  brought 
upon  me! 

[tille  laughs."] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  she  laughs ! 

TILLE 

Isn't  it  laughable?  We  are  in  a  certain 
sense  ... 

CHONE 

[In  rage."]  Oh!  [He  takes  a  step  in  her  di- 
rection, but  restrains  himself.li  Tell  me  at  once 
how  much  money  you  had! 

TILLE 

More,  at  all  events,  than  I  have  now. 

CHONE 

Speak  clearly. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  55 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

Why  won't  you  tell  us? 

TILLE 

Because  the  money  is  mine  and  I  owe  an  account- 
ing to  no  one.  Furthermore,  it's  more  interesting 
for  you  not  to  know. 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

What  do  you  say  to  that? 

CHONE 

Wait!  I'll  make  you  speak  fast  enough! 
[Picks  up  the  stick.]     Will  you  speak? 

JUDKE 

[Bleating  malevolently.']     Hay  —  hay  —  hay! 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

Let  us  at  least  finish  eating. 

TILLE 

[Calmly.]  You  had  better  lose  no  time  in  use- 
less discussion!  Eat  and  then  let  us  go  and  seek 
the  treasure. 

CHONE 

At  once  you  are  to  tell  me! 


Very  well,  I'll  render  you  justice.  If  nothing 
comes  of  the  treasure,  I'll  tell  you  exactly  how 
much  money  I've  had  ,  .  .  and  render  a  strict  ac- 
counting. 


56  THE  TREASURE  [Acr  II 

CHONB 

{^Beats  the  floor  with  his  stick.']  I  want  to  know 
it  now !  You  are  to  tell  me  at  once !  I  must  know 
what  I  ought  to  say  to  people  to-morrow.  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Are  you  really  going  to  tell  them  the  truth? 

CHONE 

What  I'm  going  to  say  to  them  doesn't  concern 
you.     How  much  money  did  you  have? 

TILLE 

What  you  see  on  me  represents  all  I  had. 

CHONE 

How  many  Imperials  were  there?     Fifteen? 

TILLS 

Fifteen. 
Twenty  ? 
Twenty. 

CHONE 

[Rushes  upon  her,"]     Кт&  you  mocking  me,  eh? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Holding  him  Ьйск.]     You  see  she  won't  tell. 

JUDKE 

Don't  tell. 


CHONB 


TILLB 


Act  П]  THE  TREASURE  47 

CHONB 

She'll  tell  soon  enough! 

JACHNE-BRAINi 

Wait  rather  a  day  or  two  till  we  know  how  it 
is  with  the  treasure.  You  had  better  sit  down  and 
eat.     Oh,  God  above!     God  above! 

TILLE 

That's  just  the  advice  I  give  you. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Stop  talking! 

TILLE 

We  must  eat  in  a  hurry  and  go  out.  The  night  is 
clear.  And  I'm  hungry  too.  At  the  confection- 
er's I  just  nibbled  dainties.  [She  sits  down  at  the 
table.] 

CHONE 

[Calmer  but  with  a  glance  full  of  hatred  and 
contempt.']  On  a  fast  day  at  the  confectioner's. 
I'm  a  fool  to  lay  aside  the  stick.  [Exit  into  the 
outer  hall.] 

TILLE 

[With  a  disdainful  air.]  Oh,  after  the  nice 
things  at  the  confectioner's  the  horse-radish  sick- 
ens me. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Behold  her!  She  has  become  a  gourmet  sud- 
denly —  the  millionaire ! 

[cHONE  enters  with  moist  hands,  dries  them,  pro- 
nounces the  blessing,  sits  down  at  the  table 
and  eats.] 


58  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

TILLE 

Oh,  how  good  the  ice  cream  tasted. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Be  silent!     Don't  provoke  him! 

CHONE 

And  the  stuff  didn't  choke  you  ? 

TILLE 

As  you  see. 
\They  eat.     There  is  silence.'} 

CHONE 

She  simply  went  away  and  made  her  purchases. 
What  all  did  she  buy? 

TILLE 

Ah,  that's  a  different  way  of  talking. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

She  bought  quite  enough. 

TILLE 

[^Jumps  up,  smooths  her  dress,  holds  her  arms 
akimbo  and  swings  around  in  front  of  chone.] 
Look!  Stylish,  isn't  it?  [Shows  him  the  rings.} 
And  this  —  [shows  him  the  earrings  by  shaking 
her  head]  —  And  these!  [Shows  the  watch  and 
chain.']  And  this!  You  see?  [Puts  on  the  hat.] 
And  this !  From  the  Parisian  model  shop. 
[Opens  the  sunshade.]  And  this.  [She  stands  up 
before  him,  one  hand  at  her  hip,  the  other  holding 
the   sunshade.]     Well,  how   does   your   first  born 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  59 

please  you  now?  [5/ie  spreads  out  the  cZoaAr.] 
And  then  this.  .  .  .  \^She  throws  it  across  her 
shoulder  and  assumes  the  air  and  gait  of  a  lady  of 
fashion.'} 


\^Angrily.}  Did  you  ever  see  such  pretentious 
behaviour  ? 

TILLE 

Just  let  us  find  the  treasure  of  many,  many  thou- 
sands, and  you'll  see  all  that  I  can  make  of  myself. 
And  now  look  at  what  I  bought  for  you  others. 
Cloth  for  suits  for  yourself  and  Judke  and  for  a 
dress  for  mother.     And  look  at  the  quality. 


[Throws  a  sidelong,  angry  glance  at  the  cloth 
and   turns   away   again.}      And   the   diamonds    are 


really  genuine 


TILLE 


What's  that?     Am  I  likely  to  buy  paste?     Your 
only  daughter  doesn't  wear  paste  diamonds. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Don't  make  such  a  fuss.     Sit  down  and  let  us 
end  this  merry  meal. 


[Having  finished  his  meal.  Thoughtfully.'] 
Well,  we  have  a  fine  daughter  —  finer  than  you  can 
say.  She  does  as  she  pleases.  Her  parents  have 
to  get  on  as  best  they  can  in  spite  of  her. 


60  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Beginning  again?  You've  been  still  too  long,  I 
suppose? 

TILLE 

Wby  should  you  care,  father?  Let  us  first  find 
the  treasure;  then  everything  will  be  well.  Then 
I'll  call  you  "  Papa  "... 

CHONE 

And  he  hasn't  remembered  yet? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  expect  him  to?  Do  you?  You  can  wait  a 
long  time! 

CHONE 

l^Groans-l  Ah,  ah,  ah!  [To  judke.]  Were 
there  many  more  golden  coins  there? 

JUDKE 

[Who  has  been  staring  hungrily  at  the  table 
•while  the  others  have  been  eating.]  Won't  tell! 
Won't  talk  to  you! 

CHONE 

[Angrily.]  I'll  get  you  to  talk.  .  .  .  [Groans.] 
Ah,  ah,  ah!  [Then  he  begins  to  murmur  the 
prayer  after  meals.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Crazy  Judke. 

TILLE 

But  you'll  tell  me,  won't  you,  Judke?  Be  good. 
Do  you  want  some  more  radish  ?  What  else  do  you 
want  to  eat? 


Act  IIJ  THE  TREASURE  61 

JUDKE 

Want  nothing. 

TILLE 

Were  there  more  golden  coins  there? 

JUDKE 

Don't  remember  nothing. 

TILLE 

Oh,  what  a  pity.     Schutschke  was  such  a  good 
doggy,  and  not  even  to  know  where  he's  buried ! 

JUDKE 

[Beats  his  head  with  his  fists.^      Why   don't  I 
remember?     Why  don't  I  remember? 

TILLE 

Well,  well,  don't  act  crazy.     You'll  have  a  good 
sleep  and  then  you'll  remember. 

[jUDKE  sits  still  for  a  while  longer.  Then  he  gets 
up,  takes  the  new  cloth,  goes  to  the  bench  and 
stretches  himself  out  on  it.  For  a  little  while 
he  giggles  and  caresses  the  cloth.  Then  he 
falls  asleep.] 

[cHONE  ends  his  prayer.  A  knocking  is  heard  at 
the  outer  door.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Some  one  is  coming. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

[Enters.]     Good  evening.     May  your  fast  agree 
with  you ! 


62  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

CHONK    and    JACHNE-BRAINE 

[^Surprised.]     Good   evening! 

TILLE 

Good  evening!     What  a  guest! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

To  think  of  a  marriage  broker  finding  his  way 
to  us  too.     And  what  a  grand  one. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Well,  you  know,  a  man  puts  ofF  finding  his  way 
to  the  graveyard  as  long  as  possible.     Ha,  ha,  ha ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  so  the  grave-digger's  daughter  must  be  an 
old  maid. 

TILLE 

Your  daughter  isn't  so  old  yet. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

That's  my  opinion  exactly.  All,  what  a  hot  day 
it  was  and  what  a  difficult  fast!  But  that's  our 
Jewish  fate.  On  the  longest  and  hottest  days  we 
must  fast. 

CHONE 

We  fast  enough  in  winter  too. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

I  simply  think  that  the  summer  fast  days  are 
superfluous.  And  yet  again  —  when  does  a  Jew 
not    suffer    hunger.''     He    suffers    it    continually. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  63 

thank  God,  in  summer  and  winter,  on  long  days  and 
on  short  ones. 

CHONE 

A  Jew  suffers  no  hunger  —  except  when  he  has 
something  to  eat.     Ha,  ha,  ha ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Sighs.]  Yes,  yes!  [She  begins  to  clear  the 
table.  She  carries  the  plates  into  the  kitchen, 
places  the  bread  in  the  cupboard,  takes  the  table- 
cloth, shakes  it  out  in  a  corner  and  replaces  it  on 
the  table.] 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Did  you  have  a  busy  day  to-day? 

CHONE 

We  don't  know  what  it  is  to  lack  work  on  any 
day. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

That  is  to  say,  people  die  off  and  on. 

CHONE 

And  not  too  sparingly.  To-day  we  had  four 
buryings,  and  in  the  course  of  the  week  there 
were  .  .  . 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Yes,  yes,  people  die.  But  God  sends  the  balm 
before  the  wound  is  felt.  Because  people  must  die 
God  has  supplied  the  world  with  marriage  brokers 
—  hi,  hi,  hi !  —  who  see  to  it  that  young  people  are 
united  so  that  they  can  bt-get  children  —  and  so 
the  лу1ю1е  business  keeps  turning. 


64  THE  TREASURE  [Act  H 

TILLB 

Then  a  marriage  broker  is  a  finer  thing  than  a 
grave-digger. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

And  the  best  thing  of  all  is  to  get  married  one- 
self, eh? 

TILLS 

That  depends. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

[Takes  a  cigarette  and  then  hands  the  case  to 
CHONE.]  Help  yourself,  Reb  Chone!  Well,  the 
things  one  hears  of  you !  [Laughs.  The  two  men 
smoke.^ 

CHONE 

I  see  already  that  you've  heard  something. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Naturally !  The  whole  town  rings  with  it.  Hi, 
hi,  hi! 

[JACHNE-BRAINE  sighs.'\ 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

So  that's  your  daughter.  And  you  have  only 
one  daughter.-^ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  might  have  learned  that  long  ago. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

You  must  understand  me  and  not  take  it  in  ill 
part.     But  a  marriage  broker  is  not  a  grave-dig- 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  65 

ger.     He  profits  by  the  living  and  not  by  the  dead. 
And  poor  people  are  like  dead  people,  hi,  hi,  hi ! 

TILLE 

So  poor  girls  don't  get  married  at  all? 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Understand  me  rightly!  I'm  a  marriage  broker 
who  —  you  mustn't  misunderstand  me  now  or  feel 
hurt  —  who  has  brought  about  some  magnificent 
matches  and  that  in  the  wealthiest  families.  I 
represent  young  men  who  are  worth  five  thousand 
rubles  and  ten  and  twenty  and  even  more.  I  have 
doctors  and  lawyers  and  engineers,  and  also  simply 
fine  young  men,  highly  educated,  the  sons  of  rich 
people,  who  possess  nice  fortunes  of  their  own. 
Now  I'm  looking  for  a  wife  for  a  chemist  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINK 

For  a  —  what .'' 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

For  a  chemist,  a  thoroughly  smart  and  learned 
man  who  makes  different  colours.  You  must  have 
heard  of  Shalom  Balashkin's  son !  A  head  he  has 
on  him  —  you  won't  find  his  equal !  And  he's  an 
inventor  —  simply  unique  !  Now  he's  thought  out 
some  kind  of  thing,  a  kind  of  colour,  for  which 
people  are  offering  him  hundreds  of  thousands. 
But  he  doesn't  want  to  sell.  He'd  like  to  build  a 
factory  to  make  the  colour  himself,  and  in  two  or 
three  years  he'll  be  a  millionaire.  That's  the  kind 
of  a  colour  it  is.  To  do  this  he  needs,  you  under- 
stand me,  about  twenty-five  thousand  rubles.  And, 
since  he  has  no  money  of  his  олуп  he's  looking  for 


66  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

a  wife  with  that  much  dowry.  I'm  a  kind  of 
banker,  you  see,  who  procures  great  sums  of  money 
for  young  men  like  that,  without  interest  and  with 
a  wife  in  the  bargain. 

TILLB 

Is  he  handsome? 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Who.'*  The  chemist?  Handsome?  And  sup- 
pose he  isn't  handsome?  Is  that  so  important  in  a 
man?  The  main  thing  about  a  man  is  that  he  can 
earn  a  great  deal  of  money. 

TILLE 

If  I'm  to  give  a  dowry  of  twenty-five  thousand,  I 
won't  have  any  one  who  isn't  handsome. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

All  girls  make  the  same  mistake.  A  handsome 
man  is  nothing  special.  A  handsome  man  is  far 
too  vain  and,  the  way  the  world  goes  nowadays, 
you  have  to  watch  him  wherever  he  goes.  Ha,  ha, 
ha !  The  main  thing  is  here !  [He  taps  his  fore- 
head.'] 

TILLE 

No,  the  main  thing  for  me  is  looks.  You  can  let 
me  see  to  it  that  he  has  to  watch  me  and  not  I  him. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Look  at  her !     She  has  grown  up  here  .  .  . 

TILLE 

If  I  have  a  dowry  of  twenty-five  thousand,  he 
needn't  exert  his  head  so  much. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  67 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Oh,  but  there's  a  great  difference!  Take  my 
chemist,  for  instance.  In  two  or  three  years  he'll 
be  a  millionaire!  Another  man  might  do  away 
with  the  money  in  two  or  three  years  and  you'll 
hardly  know  where  it's  gone  to! 

TILLE 

I'd  rather  live  in  poverty  —  if  the  man  is  hand- 
some. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Well,  then  I  must  tell  you,  though  you  mustn't 
take  it  amiss,  that  you  talk  quite  like  a  child. 

.   TILLE 

But  what  shall  I  do  if  he's  ugly  and  loses  the 
money  too.''  What  then.''  Then  I'd  have  nothing 
to  eat  and  nothing  to  look  at! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Loses  the  money?  A  chemical  matter  for  which 
they're  offering  him  hundreds  of  thousands ! 

TILLE 

Have  you  only  that  one  on  your  list? 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

What?  Only  one?  Л1ау  we  find  as  many 
treasures  as  I  have  young  men  on  my  list.  And 
what  handsome  ones!  I'm  only  talking  about  the 
chemist,  because  — 


68  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 


I'd  rather  have  you  speak  of  the  handsome  ones. 
A  vigorous  one  with  fiery  black  eyes  .  .  . 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

So  surely  as  we  all  hope  to  keep  well  ...  I 
have  one  like  that  too.  He's  an  engineer.  But 
let  us  speak  openly.  [To  chone.]  How  much 
dowry  are  you  going  to  give? 

CHONE 

I  —  dowry .'' 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

We  —  dowry? 

TILLE 

[Calmly.']     It  depends  on  the  young  man. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Five,  ten,  twenty,  fifty  thousand?  They're  say- 
ing the  treasure  is  perhaps  a  million ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Fy !     May  all  evil  overtake  my  enemies. 

CHONE 

Truly,  I  feel  sick  when  people  begin  to  talk  of  it. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Well,  what  other  people  have,  you  know,  always 
looks  like  more  than  it  is.  People  say  a  million. 
I  suppose  it's  less.  But  how  much  less  can  it  be? 
We  know  what  is  meant  by  a  treasure.  A  treasure 
is   not   just   a   small   affair.     I    really   think   you 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  69 

might  be  frank  with  me.  God  forbid  that  I  should 
be  trying  to  pump  you.  However  much  money  you 
have,  may  it  be  a  source  of  nothing  but  good  to  you. 
On  this  day  you  were  destined  to  find  a  treasure, 
and  you  found  it;  another  time  good  fortune  may 
come  to  me  and  I'll  find  one.  Far  from  envying 
you,  I'm  very  glad  that  you  found  it  and  not 
another  man,  possibly  a  childless  one.  Through 
you  I  can  at  least  earn  something.  A  daughter 
you  have.  And  a  son,  too,  it  seems,  though  people 
say  he's  a  cripple.  Is  he  that  on  the  bench  yon- 
der .''  Well,  we'll  manage  to  provide  for  him  too  — 
it'll  be  a  little  harder,  perhaps.  The  main  thing 
I  want  to  know  is  — "  the  price!  "  "  What  does  it 
cost?  "  You  understand  me?  In  short,  tell  me 
how  much  you  will  give,  whether  it's  a  thousand 
rubles  more  or  less  —  and  then  we'll  be  ready. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  dearie  me !     Dearie  me ! 

CHONE 

Tell  me :  do  you  know  what  you're  talking  about  ? 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

I  understand  you,  I  understand  you!  Don't  be 
vexed  at  me.  In  your  position  I  would  act  just 
as  you  do.  Do  you  think  that  I  would  rush  into 
the  city  and  cry  out:  I  have  found  so  and  so  much? 
Huh !  I  wouldn't  think  of  it.  What  would  be  the 
consequence?  In  a  minute  I'd  have  the  whole  town 
about  my  ears,  everybody  wanting  something  and 
tugging  at  my  pocket.  .  .  •  When  you  have  money 
you  have  relatives  and  friends.  I  would  be  silent 
too,  so  sure  as  I'm  alive.     And  if  I  were  to  say 


70  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

anything,  I'd  give  ten  or  twenty  times  less  than  it 
is.  But  as  between  us,  we're  after  a  very  different 
matter.  Keep  your  money  all  you  want  to,  but  I 
must  know  how  much  dowry  you're  going  to  give 
your  daughter. 

TILLE 

I've  already  told  you:  it  depends  on  the  young 
man.     Only  he  must  be  a  handsome  one. 

CHONE 

Am  I  crazy  or  are  you  crazy? 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

Oh,  dearie  me !     Dearie  me ! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

I  see  it  is  with  your  daughter  that  one  must 
speak. 

CHONE 

May  I  know  as  little  of  all  evil  as  I  know  of 
what  is  going  on  here. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

It  seems  to  me  that  everything  must  have  its 
limits.  You'll  have  to  marry  off  your  daughter; 
you're  not  going  to  shut  her  up  in  a  cloister !  And, 
furthermore,  it  seems  to  me  that  she's  not  at  all 
such  a  child  that  she'll  permit  herself  to  be  shut 
up.     And  the  sooner  you  marry  her  off,  the  better. 

CHONE 

But  .  .  . 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  Tl 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

Oh,  my  dear  God ! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

And  if  you  think  that  another  marriage  broker 
would  propose  more  favourable  matches,  you  are 
greatly  mistaken.  I  believe  you  know  what 
matches  I  have  brought  about,  and  you  need  not 
be  ashamed  to  have  me  suggest  an  eligible  match 
for  your  daughter. 

CHONE 

God  in  heaven  !     What  a  torment ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Truly  as  I  live! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Who  is  a  torment  ?  I  ?  No  one  has  ever  told  me 
that  before,  and  I  have  entrance  to  the  best  Jewish 
houses.  It's  clear  that  one  is  dealing  here  with 
beggars  who  have  just  grown  rich.  And  do  you 
know  what  I  tell  you?  I  don't  believe  in  the 
treasure  at  all  any  more.  A  fine  treasure  it's  likely 
to  be  —  an  Imperial  and  a  half,  perhaps. 

CHONE 

Don't  believe  in  the  treasure,  I  tell  you !  Don't 
believe  in  it! 

[tille,  during  the  last  words  of  the  marriage  bro- 
ker, has  arisen,  smoothed  her  frock,  stretched 
out  her  hand  with  the  rings  on  it  and  turned 
her  head  so  as  to  make  the  jewels  in  her  ears 
glitter.] 


72  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 


THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 


A  torment!  As  though  I  had  come  to  beg  for 
alms. 

TILLE 

Don't  be  annoyed  and  rather  discuss  the  matter 
with  ше.  All  you  need  do  is  to  provide  a  hand- 
some bridegroom. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

But  the  sum !  I  must  know  the  amount !  Is  it 
five,  ten,  twenty,  fifty,  a  hundred  thousand.'* 

TILLE 

[Composedly. 1  Five,  ten,  fifty,  a  hundred 
thousand  — 

CHONE 

Wha  — what.? 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  opcns  her  moutk  and  sits  still  as 
though  petrified.^ 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Well,  that's  clear  information.  But  how  will  it 
be  if  your  father  won't  give  that  much  ? 

TILLE 

Depend  on  me.     He'll  get  better  inclined. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

I  see  that  one  may  depend  on  you.  You  are  the 
one  who  directs  things  here,  eh?  Now,  how  is  it? 
May  I  wire? 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  73 


TILLE 


Yes,  you  may  wire.     But  I   want  none  but  a 
handsome  one,  do  you  hear? 


THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 


Depend  on  me.  He'll  be  handsome  as  a  picture. 
Unparalleled.  You  won't  grow  tired  of  looking 
at  him.  It's  this  very  engineer.  But  the  affair 
can't  be  managed  on  less  than  thirty  thousand. 


Even  if  it  takes  fifty  thousand  —  he  must  be 
handsome ! 

CHONB 

[Grasps  his  head.]     Woe  is  me!     Woe! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

Tall  and  vigorous!  Like  a  guardsman!  With 
black,  fiery  eyes. 

TILLE 

[With  faltering  breath.}  You  may  telegraph. 
Does  he  live  far  from  here.'' 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

If  I  wire  him  now,  he'll  be  here  to-morrow  night 
at  eleven. 

TILLE 

Then  go  and  wire ! 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

I  just  wanted  to  tell  you  of  his  descent.  He 
comes  of  a  good  family.  But  I  am  going  to  wire 
now.     Give  me  the  money  for  a  telegram. 


74  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

TILLE 

Certainly.  [Rapidly  she  goes  into  another 
room.] 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

She  has  good  sense^  really !  She  won't  have  to 
guard  her  husband. 

[cHONE  and  JACHNE-BRAINE  sit  With  орвп  moutk  as 
though  bereft  of  their  senses.] 

TILLE 

[Comes  bach  and  gives  the  marriage  broker  a 
bank-note.]  There's  money  for  the  telegram. 
The  telegram  won't  cost  so  much  as  that.  The  rest 
is  for  your  trouble. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

She  knows  her  business,  on  my  word  of  honour! 
She'll  be  a  treasure  to  her  husband  without  any- 
thing. I'll  hurry  on  now.  Good  night  to  all. 
May  I  come  back  later  and  discuss  the  matter 
fully.? 

TILLE 

It  isn't  necessary.  One  must  rest  after  the  fast 
day.     The  main  thing  is  that  he  please  me. 

THE    MARRIAGE    BROKER 

She's  a  clever  one,  so  sure  as  I  live !  You'll  see 
how  handsome  he  is !  You'll  be  satisfied.  Good 
night.     \He  goes.     There  is  a  brief  pause.] 

TILLE 

[Breaking  out  into  laughter,  clasps  her  hands 
and  dances.]  Millionaire!  A  millionaire!  It's 
working!     The  trick  is  working! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  75 

CHONE 

If  I  didn't  have  a  stroke  it's  because  I'm 
stronger  than  iron. 

JACHNE-BRAINR 

Oh,  it's  enough  to  make  one  crazy!  What  kind 
of  jokes  are  these! 

CHONE 

It's  enough  now!  Now  I  want  to  know  how 
much  money  you  have!  [To  jachne-braine.] 
Who  knows  ?  Maybe  she  really  has  a  million ! 
Did  you  hear  how  quietly  she  said:  five,  ten,  fifty, 
a  hundred  thousand  rubles!  [To  tille.]  Now 
you'll  tell  me  at  once  how  much  money  you  have,  do 
you  hear?  Now  you  won't  escape  me.  [To 
JACHNE-BRAINE.]  Why  did  slie  go  out  before.'* 
Where  does  she  keep  the  money  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

How  do  I  know.''     Somewhere  about  her? 

TILLE 

I'm  a  millionaire!  I'm  a  millionaire!  Oh,  you 
don't  understand  a  joke! 

CHONE 

I'll  strip  you  naked !  I'll  tear  every  shred  off 
your  back !  .  .  .  This  minute  you'll  turn  the  money 
over  to  me. 


TILLE 


What  money?     Which  money?  —  I've  told  you 
that  I  haven't  any  money  at  all. 


76  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 


CHONS 


What  do  you  mean?  You  have  no  money? 
And  you  expect  me  to  believe  that?  Where  did 
you  get  the  five  rubles  which  you  just  gave  him? 
And  all  your  talk,  to  him  —  was  that  a  j  оке  ? 


And  if  it  is  a  joke,  what  of  it?  The  main  thing 
is,  you  understand  .  .  . 

CHONE 

Don't  try  to  confuse  me!  Put  the  money  down 
here.  I  don't  even  want  to  take  it  away  from  you ! 
I  just  want  to  look  at  it!  I  just  want  to  see  how 
money  looks.  All  my  life  long  I  have  seen  no 
money;  I  want  to  give  just  a  glance  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  I  didn't  really  know  my  own  daughter! 
[ГЛе  outer  door  is  heard  to  open.'] 


\_Peevishli/.'\  Keep  stiU!  A  visitor  is  coming 
to  the  owner  of  the  treasure ! 

CHONE 

[^Whispering  between  his  teeth."]  Just  wait! 
You'll  give  me  the  money  yet! 

SOSKIN 

[Very  near-sighted,  well  dressed,  enters.  He 
has  an  expression  of  self-importance.]  Good  even- 
ing. 


Act  И]  THE  TREASURE  77' 

CHONE 

[Jumps  up,  surprised  and  embarrassed.']     Now 
look  at  that  .  .  .  Mr.  Soskin !     Good  evening. 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  clusps  her  hands  with  consterna- 
tion behind  soskin's  back,  frightened  and 
astonished.] 

[tille  bites  her  lips  in  order  to  conceal  her  laugh- 
ter.] 

SOSKIN 

A  difEcult  fast,  wasn't  it?      [Takes  a  chair  and 
makes   himself  quite  comfortable.] 

CHONE 

Yes,  a  fast  day  as  always.      [Sits  down  slowly.^ 
[tille  takes  up  a  book  and  sits  down.] 
[jACHNE-BRAiNE  doesn't  dare  to  sit  down.] 

SOSKIN 

Were  there  many  funerals  to-day? 

CHONE 

There's  no  lack  of  them  on  any  day,  thank  God ! 

SOSKIN 

To-day  you  have  dug  up  something  too!     Ha, 
ha,  ha ! 

[cHONE  looks  at  him  in  stupefaction.] 

[tille  raises  her  eyes  from  her  book  but  immedi- 
ately lowers  them  again  and  smiles.] 


78  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

[jACHNE-BRAINE  looks  first  at  CHONE,  then  at  TILLE 

significantly,    shakes    her    head    angrily    and 
sighs. ^ 

SOSKIN 

Where  did  you  dig  it  up,  on  the  old  field  or  the 

new  ? 

CHONE 

[Smiles  in  his  extreme  embarrassment.}  Hm, 
hm  .  .  . 

SOSKIN 

I  asked  you  the  same  question  in  the  synagogue 
and  if  I'm  not  mistaken  you  said,  in  the  new  .  .  . 

CHONE 

[As  before.]  Yes?  How  could  I  have  said 
that? 

SOSKIN 

I  don't  know,  but  that  is  what  you  did  say. 

CHONE 

May  I  know  as  little  of  any  evil  as  I  know  of 
having  said  that. 

SOSKIN 

Anyhow  I  don't  understand  why  you  should  be 
so  afraid  or  why  you  seem  to  regret  having  said 
what  you  did. 

CHONE 

Regret?  How  can  I  regret  saying  what  I 
couldn't  have  said? 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  79 

SOSKIN 

Why  couldn't  you  hare  said  it?  If  you  found  it 
in  the  new  field  —  well  and  good,  then  you  found 
it  there. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Sighs.']     Oh,  Father  above.  Father  above! 

SOSKIN 

How  many  burials  did  you  have  to-day? 

CHONE 

[Cautiously.]     Four. 

SOSKIN 

And  where? 

CHONE 

On  the  .  .  . 

SOSKIN 

[As  though  he  had  not  heard.]     Where? 

CHONE 

[Utterly  at  loss  to  jachne-braine  and  tille.] 
Where?     Where  did  I? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

There  you  are!  He  asks  me  where  he  buried 
people  to-day. 

TILLE 

On  the  old  field,  it  seems  to  me. 

SOSKIN 

[Laughs.]  On  the  old  field!  It  seems!  Why 
do  you  ask  her  anyhow?     You  did  the  burying! 


80  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

You're  the  one  who  knows !  But  the  matter  can 
be  ascertained.  Isn't  that  so,  Reb  Chone?  All 
we  have  to  do  is  to  look  into  the  records  to  see  who 
was  buried  to-day  and  then  we  would  know  at  once 
where,  but  — 

TIL  LB 

Why  do  you  have  to  know  that  at  all? 

SOSKIN 

[^Disregards  the  question.']  But  even  a  blind 
man  can  see  that  you  dug  graves  in  the  new  field  to- 
day, otherwise  you  would  have  told  me  at  once  and 
not  first  consulted  with  your  wife  and  daughter. 

TILLE 

Yes,  but  how  does  it  concern  you  so  nearly? 


How  it  concerns  me?  Oh,  not  at  all.  All  that 
I'm  surprised  at  is  your  desire  to  conceal  the  truth. 
If  you  found  the  treasure  in  the  new  field,  why 
don't  you  say  simply :  I  found  it  in  the  new  field. 

TILLE 

But  it  does  seem  to  matter  a  good  deal  to  you. 
Otherwise  you  wouldn't  have  taken  the  trouble  to 
come  here  so  late  on  a  fast  day  just  to  ask  where 
Chone  the  grave-digger  found  his  treasure.  Isn't 
that  quite  indifferent  to  you  ? 

SOSKIN 

In  respectable  houses  the  children  don't  interfere 
when  one  is  speaking  with  their  parents. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  81 

TILLE 

[Affronted,  mutters.]  If  our  family  isn't  re- 
spectable^  you  needn't  marry  into  it  —  that's  all. 

CHONE 

Hold  your  tongue ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  she  ought  to  be  burned! 

SOSKIN 

[To  cHONE.]  Can't  лус  go  into  another  room 
and  discuss  the  matter  thoroughly? 

TILLE 

[Lays  her  book  aside.]  You  don't  have  to  talk 
to  father  at  all.  I  myself  found  the  treasure,  not 
he. 

SOSKIN 

You  must  first  make  me  believe  that ! 

TILLE 

You  needn't  believe  it  if  you  don't  want  to. 

SOSKIN 

[To  CHONE.]  In  spite  of  that  I'd  like  to  talk 
to  you  alone. 

CHONE 

Well,  then,  if  you  want  to  know  the  entire  truth, 
I  swear  that  I  found  nothing  at  all. 

SOSKIN 

Who  did  then  ? 


82  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

TILLE 

Haven't  you  been  told? 

SOSKIN 

What  business  has  she  to  be  digging  around  on 
the  graveyard? 

CHONB 

Ask  her  what  business  of  hers  it  is !  How  do  I 
know?  .  .  .  There  she  sits!     Let  her  tell  you! 

SOSKIN 

All  of  which  means  that  you've  agreed  with  each 
other  not  to  tell  where  you  found  it. 

CHONE 

Why  did  we  have  to  agree? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  God!     Oh,  God! 

SOSKIN 

Why  you  had  to  do  it  I  don't  know.  I  wasn't 
listening  behind  your  door. 

TILLE 

But  you've  agreed  with  yourself  that  we  made 
our  find  on  the  new  field,  and  you  want  to  insist  on 
persuading  us  that  it  was  there.  So  you  must  have 
some  interest  in  the  matter. 

eosKiN 

I  know  simply  this:  In  the  synagogue  you  said 
clearly  and  unmistakably  that  you  found  the  treas- 
ure in  your  own  person  and  on  the  new  field. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  вЗ 

CHONE 

H-m!  How  is  that?  How  can  it  be?  How 
could  I  have  said  that  when  I  didn't  find  anything 
and  don't  even  know  where  anything  was  found. 

SOSKIN 

It  simply  means  you  deny  everything  that  you 
said.  But  how  will  it  be  if  others  heard  you,  and 
if  I  can  bring  forward  witnesses? 

TILLE 

Witnesses?  [Regards  him  keenly  and  thought- 
fully.] 

CHONE 

You  hear  .  .  .   ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me!     What  kind  of  witnesses? 

SOSKIN 

I'll  tell  you  what  to  do !  Come  and  show  me  the 
hole  in  which  the  treasure  was  found. 

TILLE 

[Reflectively.']  The  hole  has  been  filled  in  long 
ago. 

SOSKIN 

Why  did  you  fill  it  in  ? 

TILLE 

That  a  blind  horse  mayn't  fall  in. 


84  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 


SOSKIN 


[Jumps  up.]  Well,  then^  let  me  tell  you  that 
you'll  have  a  lawsuit  on  your  hands. 

CHONE 

A  lawsuit ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  I  perish! 

TILLE 

What  kind  of  a  lawsuit? 

SOSKIN 

[Going  to  the  door.]  You'll  learn  that  in  good 
time. 

TILLE 

Aha,  I  see  through  it  all.  The  congregation 
bought  the  new  field  of  him.  I  understand  now 
why  he  wants  to  insist  that  we  found  the  treasure  in 
the  new  field.  [Laughs.]  Don't  you  understand.'' 
He  wants  a  share. 

SOSKIN 

If  not  the  whole  of  it.  Well,  if  you've  come  to 
have  so  much  sense  .  .  . 


It  occurred  to  me  just  this  moment.  It  didn't 
at  first  at  all.     A  share  is  what  he  wants. 

SOSKIN 

You  found  the  treasure  in  the  new  field.  Now,  I 
sold  the  field  to  the  congregation,  but  not  what  was 
buried  in  it. 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  85 


TILLE 


But  you  didn't  bury  the  treasure  yourself !  You 
knew  nothing  of  it,  did  you? 

SOSKIN 

You  are  a  regular  lawj^er,  it  seems.  But  I  am 
as  well  informed  in  these  matters  of  law  as  you 
are.  You  will  have  to  turn  over  every  kopek  to 
me,  other%vise  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Otherwise  .'* 

SOSKIN 

You'll  all  be  taken  to  prison. 

CHONE 

Woe  is  me !  Woe  is  me !  What  a  visitation  has 
come  upon  us.'' 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  I  can't  bear  any  more. 

TILLE 

Is  that  so.''  To  prison,  did  you  say?  I  should 
like  to  see  that ! 

SOSKIN 

Yes,  you'll  come  to  believe  it  in  good  time. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  God  above !  What  a  misfortune !  What 
kind  of  a  treasure  have  we?  Where  is  any  treas- 
ure?    For  the  love  of  God! 


86  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

SOSKIN 

What?  Now  you  want  to  deny  the  whole  busi- 
ness entirely?  You  want  to  act  as  though  you 
hadn't  found  a  treasure  of  several  hundred  thou- 
sands, if  not  more? 

CHONE 

Of  several  hundred  thousands?  [He  gazes 
wildly  at  TiLLE.] 

TILLE 

Well,  then,  go  ahead  and  start  your  lawsuit.  We 
are  as  rich  as  you  and  quite  as  well  able  to  hire  a 
lawyer  as  yourself;  and  we  will  prove  up  to  the 
hilt  that  we  didn't  find  the  treasure  in  the  new  field. 
And  now  go  ahead !  We'll  wait  and  see  to  whose 
advantage  it  all  turns  out! 

SOSKIN 

But  I  have  witnesses  who  will  bear  out  my  asser- 
tion that  your  father  said  he  had  found  the  treasure 
in  the  new  field. 

CHONE 

It  isn't  possible  at  all !  I  couldn't  have  said  any 
such  thing.  If  I  am  to  tell  you  the  truth,  it's  that 
I  didn't  find  .  .  .  that  I  .  .  . 

TILLE 

It's  all  right.  Let  him  be.  Let  him  produce  his 
witnesses  in  court.  And  if  you  did  say  it?  What 
of  it?  You  simply  lied;  you  didn't  want  to  tell 
them  the  truth. 

CHONE 

But  I  didn't  say  it.     I  couldn't  have  said  it! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  87 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

How  is  it  that  he  couldn't  say  it? 

SOSKIN 

Well,  you'll  see  where  your  daughter  will  land 
you  in  the  end.  Good  night.  [He  goes  toward  the 
door.] 

CHONE 

For  the  love  of  God !  Did  any  one  ever  hear 
of  such  things ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Bursting  into  tears.]  Oh,  what  a  misfortune! 
What  a  misfortune ! 

SOSKIN 

[Remains  standing  at  the  door,  turns  around.] 
Why  don't  we  bargain  decently  with  one  another, 
like  Jews,  without  suits  and  courts.  I  know  of  a 
surety  that  you  found  the  treasure  in  the  new  field. 

TILLE 

It  isn't  true. 

SOSKIN 

If  you  should  undertake  to  prove  that  it  isn't 
true,  you  would  bring  great  misery  upon  your- 
selves.    Perjury  is  a  penitentiary  crime. 

TILLE 

It's  laughable.  Your  witnesses  are  the  ones  that 
will  perjure  themselves. 

SOSKIN 

Wouldn't  it  be  best  to  adjust  the  matter  among 
ourselves  and  in  kindness.'' 


88  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

TILLS 

Aha?     What  did  I  say?     He  wants  a  share! 

SOSKIN 

And  isn't  it  my  good  right?  The  treasure  was 
found  on  my  land. 

TILLK 

Useless  talk !  You  can  go  on  talking  till  to-mor- 
row. The  treasure  wasn't  found  on  the  new  field 
for  all  that. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Гтг  tears.l  What  treasure?  What  kind  of  a 
treasure?     A  treasure?     Oh! 

CHONE 

It's  enough  to  drive  you  crazy. 

SOSKIN 

So  you  don't  want  to  agree  on  a  compromise  ? 

TILLE 

Not  for  a  kopek! 

SOSKIN 

Now  I  ask  you,  Reb  Chone,  you're  an  old  man  — 
would  you  rather  become  involved  in  lawsuits  than 
compromise  ? 

CHONE 

But  I  don't  know  of  anything  at  all.  I  have 
found  no  .  .  . 

SOSKIN 

I  advise  you:  it  would  be  better  to  compromise! 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  89 

TILLB 


Ha— ha— ha! 
But  I  didn't 


CHONB 


SOSKIN 

Very  well,  then.  We'll  meet  at  a  different  place 
from  this.  Consider  it  well.  That's  all.  Good 
night.      [He  walks  out.] 

[tille  laughing  more  heartily.'] 

CHONE 

Ha !  I'll  beat  you  to  death !  Did  I  not  say  that 
she  would  plunge  us  into  misfortune.''  She'll  ruin 
us  entirely! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

She'll  succeed  in  bringing  us  all  into  gaol ! 

CHONE 

And  yet  she  laughs !  Blood  shoidd  you  be 
laughing !  Look  what  she  has  brought  about !  Be- 
cause she  suddenly  had  the  whim  to  go  and  trick 
herself  out! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  considers  no  one!     Does  as  she  pleases! 

CHONE 

What  do  you  say  to  such  a  misfortune !  A  treas- 
ure !  They  cry  a  treasure !  And  I  know  nothing 
about  anj'thing.  .  .  .  Except  for  the  five  Imperi- 
als, I  haven't  seen  anything!  I  don't  know  where 
and  I  don't  know  what! 


90  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

TILLE 

Well,  then,  laugh  with  me!  In  that  case,  what 
frightens  you  so? 

CHONE 

God  above !  May  death  himself  frighten  you 
soon!  Am  I  not  to  be  frightened?  That  man  will 
have  me  gaoled! 

TILLE 

What  for?  Did  you  find  the  treasure?  Or  do 
you  even  know  where  Judke  found  the  Imperials? 

CHONE 

As  little  as  I  know  evil  of  you!  And  perhaps 
it  was  really  a  treasure?  How  do  I  know  how 
much  money  you  have  there !  You  see  how  excited 
the  whole  city  is.  "  Hundred  of  thousands,  if  not 
more."  How  do  I  know?  Maybe  you  showed  that 
much  money! 

TILLE 

[Bursts  out  in  laughter.']     Oh,  what  a  joke! 
[The  outer  door  is  heard  opening  again,] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Weakened  by  emotion.]  Keep  still!  Some- 
body else  is  coming! 

THE   PRESIDENT  OF  THE   CONGREGATION 

[Enters.]     Good  evening! 

CHONE 

[In  a  depressed  voice.]     Good  evening! 


Act  П]  the  TREASURE  Э!' 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Sighs.]     Another  one! 
[tille  laughs  with  her  face  turned  away."] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

I  am  coming  to  you,  Reb  Chone,  straight  from 
the  council.  The  council  has  just  convened  in  ex- 
traordinary session.  You  will  easily  guess  what 
the  matter  iinder  discussion  is. 

CHONE 

[So  weary  that  he  can  scarcely  speak. '\  I  can 
guess,  I  can  guess  .  .  . 

THE    PRESIDENT 

It  concerns  the  treasure. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Ah! 

CHONE 

Woe  is  me! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Why  do  you  sigh,  Reb  Chone?  God  has  shown 
you  His  especial  favour.  And  since  you  under- 
stand that  the  congregation  desires  a  share  from 
you  .  .  . 

CHONE 

A  share  of  wliat?     A  share  from  whom? 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Let  me  explain  to  you.  You  have  found  a  treas- 
ure to-day  of  many,  many  thousands,  of  hundreds 
of  thousands  .  .  . 


93  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  Scratches  her  head  in  despair.'\ 
[cHONE  stares  wildly  at  tille.] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

When  a  man  has  been  so  suddenly  favoured  by 
God,  it  is  but  seemly  that  he  should  think  of  the 
congregation  too!  And  the  more  he  gives  away 
of  what  God  has  given  him,  the  more  blessed  will 
he  be.  But  your  case  is  different  even  from  all 
this. 

CHONE 

Oh,  woe  is  me ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Don't  sigh,  Reb  Chone !  The  congregation  is  no 
robber.  The  congregation  demands  only  what  is 
just.  You  realise  yourself  that  the  treasure  was 
found  here  on  the  land  of  the  congregation  and  that 
you  yourself  are  a  servant  of  the  congregation. 
On  the  basis  of  these  facts  the  congregation  might 
even  demand  that  you  turn  over  the  whole  sum  to 
it.  But  as  I  have  said  before,  the  congregation 
doesn't  want  to  rob  you,  and  so  the  council  has  de- 
cided that  you  divide  with  the  congregation,  share 
and  share  alike.     Isn't  that  just? 

CHONE 

[^Scarcely  able  to  moan  out  the  words."]  I  don't 
know  any  longer  what  to  say ! 

TILLE 

Father  had  a  very  hard  fast  to-day  and  in  addi- 
tion they  treated  him  to  whiskey  in  the  syna- 
gogue .  .  . 


Act  II]'  THE  TREASURE  93 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Well,  shall  we  put  oJ0F  our  conference  until  to- 
morrow ? 

CHONE 

Oh,  I  don't  know  anything!  I  don't  know  any- 
thing ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

It's  enough  to  drive  one  crazy! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Very  well,  we'll  put  it  off  until  to-morrow, 
though  I  should  prefer  to  straighten  out  the  matter 
at  once  and  not  delay  it. 

TILLE 

YouVe  held  your  council.  Now  we  want  a 
chance  to  think  it  over  too. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  is  there  to  think  over.^  Surely  you'll  not 
set  yourself  against  the  congregation.'' 

TILLE 

Nevertheless  we  must  think  it  over.  Father  can 
hardly  speak  any  longer. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Very  well.  Then  we'll  let  it  go  until  to-mor- 
row. But  I  might  as  well  tell  you,  Reb  Chone, 
that  the  congregation  will  insist  on  its  demand  and 
not  bargain  over  it  at  all.  In  addition  I  must  give 
you  this  warning:  You  mustn't  secrete  any  part  of 
the  money  and  then  state  a  smaller  sum  than  you 


94  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

have  found.  That  would  be  simply  committing  a 
theft  against  the  congregation  and  the  members  of 
the  council  wouldn't  endure  it. 

TILLE 

We  are  as  honest  as  other  people  are. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

So  much  the  better !  [He  rises.l  Well,  good 
night.  And  you'll  have  to  be  good  enough  to  come 
over  to  us  to  the  council  to-morrow  morning.  We'll 
expect  you  immediately  after  prayers.    Good  night. 

CHONE 

[Utterly  cast  dcmm.']  Oh,  I'd  like  to  speak  out 
and  —  Good  night ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Good  night,  oh,  oh,  oh! 

[the  PRESIDENT  QOeS.'] 

CHONE 

[To  TILLE.]  What  have  you  to  say  now ?  What 
have  you  to  say  now.^ 

TILLE 

What  is  there  to  be  said.?  They  have  smelled 
money  — 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Money  you  say!  I'm  already  smelling  the  mis- 
ery that  will  come  upon  us. 

CHONE 

See  what  you  have  brought  about!  What  am  I 
to  tell  the  council.'' 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  95 

TILLE 

If  you  want  to  be  very  kind,  give  them  half. 

CHONE 

Look,  she  laughs,  she  makes  a  mock  of  me !  The 
half  of  what  am  I  to  give  them?  Of  the  five  Im- 
perials ? 

[tille  laughs.^ 

CHONE 

Look  —  she's  heartless ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  may  she  be  laughing  for  the  last  time,  God 
above ! 

CHONE 

Why,  they'll  do  to  me  I  don't  know  what!  Do 
you  think  they'll  believe  me  if  I  tell  them  the  truth? 
She  runs  and  buys  diamonds  and  watches  and  God 
only  knows  what  all  or  for  how  much  money !  To 
the  marriage  broker  she  says:  "  Five,  ten,  fifty,  a 
hundred  thousand  rubles  of  dowry !  "  To  Soskin 
she  said:  "We  are  as  rich  as  you."  And  then  I 
will  go  and  lay  the  five  Imperials  on  the  table  and 
say:  "  Here  is  the  whole  treasure  and  I  am  kind 
enough  to  share  it  with  you !  " 

TILLE 

[Laughs. 1     Well,  that  would  not  be  a  lie. 

CHONE 

Oh,  but  this  is  too  much!  [Cries  out  in  a  vio- 
lent rage  as  though  possessed.]  I'll  kill  you!  I'll 
beat  you  to  death!     What  do  you  want  of  me? 


96  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

Why  do  you  drive  me  mad?  Eh?  Oh,  I'll  — 
Where  is  my  stick?  Where?  [He  grasps  his 
stick.'\  Out  with  the  money,  with  all  the  money! 
This  minute! 

[juDKE  wakes  up  and  looks  in  astonishment  at  his 
raging  father.'] 

TILLB 

All  the  money! 

с  HONE 

Yes,  all  of  it  —  the  hundreds  of  thousands,  the 
whole  million!  I  won't  wait  another  minute,  you 
won't  escape  me  any  longer! 

TILLE 

[Laughs."]  Hundreds  of  thousands!  There, 
Judke  is  awake !  Ask  him  how  many  Imperials  he 
brought  home. 

CHONE 

I  don't  want  to  know  anything!  Just  give  me 
the  money  that  you  have  on  your  person ! 

TILLE 

I  have  it  under  my  corset! 

CHONE 

Then  unlace  your  stays  and  give  it  to  me  at 
once! 

TILLE 

If  that's  what  you  want,  I  have  no  objection. 
[She  unbuttons  her  bodice.] 


Act  II]  THE  TREASURE  97 

JUDKB 

Tille,  I've  slept  enough,  but  I  don't  remember. 

TILLE 

But  I  tell  you,  it  is  my  money  that  I  am  giving 
you.  [She  draws  forth  a  few  crumpled  bank- 
notes.] Here  is  the  whole  money,  the  hundreds  of 
thousands,  the  million ! 

CHONB 

[Hurls  himself  upon  the  money,  counts  it  with 
trembling  hands  and  cries.]  Thirty-five  rubles! 
[He  turns  the  bank-notes  over  as  though  he  could 
not  trust  his  eyes  and  were  looking  for  more,] 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  helps  Mm.] 

TILLE 

[Buttons  her  bodice.]  You  needn't  look.  It 
won't  increase. 

CHONE 

I  don't  believe  you !     You've  taken  the  whole  — 

TILLE 

Do  you  want  me  to  strip  to  the  skin  ? 

CHONE 

But  what  kind  of  a  comedy  did  you  then  play 
with  the  marriage  broker,  eh? 

TILLE 

Why  should  it  annoy  you  if  I  amuse  myself? 
I  didn't  call  him;  he  came  of  his  own  accord.     He 


98  THE  TREASURE  [Act  II 

thinks  we  have  grown  rich.     Let  him  go  ahead. 
Why  should  you  take  that  to  heart  so? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

A  fine  way  of  amusing  yourself!  To-morrow 
night  at  eleven  the  bridegroom  will  come  — 

TILLE 

What  have  you  to  lose  if  he  does?  If  we  find 
the  treasure  —  very  well;  if  not,  I'll  say  that  the 
man  doesn't  suit  me.  Then  I'm  simply  an  old  maid 
again  and  he  can  travel  back  home. 

CHONE 

And  if  Soskin  sues  me  in  the  meantime? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

о  my  God ! 

CHONE 

And  how  shall  I  manage  with  the  congregation? 
How?     IScratches  his  head.']     Oh  —  oh  —  oh! 


[Comes    down   from    the    bench.]     I    go    look. 
[He  goes  out.] 

TILLE 

Judke  has  gone  out.     Hurry  and  follow  him! 

CHONE 

What's  the  use  of  going  ?     What  for  ? 


Act  IIJ  THE  TREASURE  99 

TILLE 

Well,  that  is  ... !  He  gives  up  the  whole  thing 
so  soon !  And  if  there  is  a  treasure  in  spite  of 
everything .'' 

CHONE 

Do  you  think  I  have  the  strength  left  to  move.'' 

TILLE 

I'm  sorry.  Only  it's  a  pity  because  the  night  is 
so  clear  and  bright.  I'll  just  stop  to  change  my 
clothes.  Then  I'll  go  out  myself.  [She  takes 
down  a  dress  hanging  against  the  wall  and  goes 
into  the  next  room.^ 

CHONE 

[Го  JACHNE-BRAINE.]  Well,  there  you  sit  like 
a  lady  of  leisure! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Much  strength  have  I  to  move !  I  can  scarcely 
stand  on  my  feet  after  such  a  fast  day. 

CHONE 

And  how  about  myself  ?  My  head  swims.  Let's 
go  together.     I'm  ready  to  fall  over. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  may  my  enemies  feel  like  this !  Come  on, 
then !     Come  on ! 


Woe   is   me!     Woe   is   me!      [They   drag   them- 
selves to  the  door,     chone  remembers  the  money 


100  THE  TREASURE  [Act  U 

that  is  lying  on  the  table,  turns  around,  puts  the 
money  into  his  pocket  and  sighs.     Both  go  out.^ 

TILLE 

[Enters,  dressed  in  an  old  gown.  She  has  the 
new  gown  over  her  arm.  She  looks  about.l  They 
went  after  all.  Both  of  them,  [She  strokes  the 
new  gown,  looks  at  it,  brushes  off  a  speck  of  dust, 
hums  to  herself,  finds  it  hard  to  part  from  the 
dress,  but  finally  hangs  it  up  under  the  sheet  against 
the  wall.  Finally  she  looks  at  her  hat  in  admira- 
tion, then  carries  it  together  with  the  sunshade  and 
gloves  into  the  adjoining  room.  She  returns  at 
once  and,  still  humming,  looks  at  her  earrings  in 
the  mirror.  Then  she  cries  in  a  kind  of  rapture.^ 
Ah,  at  least  for  one  day  I've  been  a  millionaire! 
Ah!     [She  hurries  out.'\ 


CURTAIN 


ACT  III 

The  same  room.  A  dim,  rainy  morning  glimmers 
through  the  ivindow.  Feather  beds  are  lying 
about  on  the  sofa,  chone,  about  to  say  his 
morning    prayers,    draws    forth    his    praying 

shawl.       JACHNE-BRAINE,      JUDKE      and      TILLE, 

the  latter  in  her  accustomed  morning  undress 
but  with  all  her  jewels,  sit  at  the  table  and 
drink  tea.  A  samovar  stands  on  the  table. 
JACHNE-BRAINE  groans  heavily. 

CHONE 

[Interrupting  his  murmured  prayers.]  Well  — 
there  you  are!  I  have  to  pray  at  home,  I  daren't 
go  to  the  synagogue,  I  must  hide.  All  on  account 
of  her  madness.     May  she  break  her  neck ! 

TILLE 

Do  keep  still !  On  an  empty  stomach  he  pours 
out  curses !     And  he  calls  that  saying  his  prayers  ! 

CHONE 

May  you  be  poured  out  of  the  world !  If  it  were 
not  for  you,  I  hadn't  fallen  upon  this  evil.  One 
thing  I  ask  you:  I've  hidden  —  very  well;  I 
haven't  shown  my  face  in  public,  I  didn't  go  to  the 
synagogue  and  I  won't  go  to  the  council !  But 
what  will  I  do  if  they  summon  me  before  the  coun- 
cil? 

101 


102  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

TILLE 

Why,  you  won't  go  —  that's  all. 

CHONE 

Not  go?  What  do  you  mean  —  not  go  when  the 
council  summons? 

TILLE 

Don't  be  at  home  when  they  come  to  summon 
you. 

CHONE 

How  shall  I  not  be  at  home?  Where  in  the 
world  am  I  to  be  ?     Can  I  hide  myself  in  the  earth  ? 

TILLE 

You  can  sit  in  there  [she  points  to  the  adjoin- 
ing room]  or  in  the  death  chamber  —  and  we  will 
say  that  you  have  gone  away. 

CHONE 

Very  well,  I  can  hide  from  the  messenger  of  the 
council,  but  what  am  I  to  do  if  the  council  comes 
here  ?     What  am  I  to  do  then  ?     What  am  I  to  say  ? 

TILLE 

Do  you  know?  I'll  tell  you  a  plan.  You 
needn't  hide ;  you  needn't  try  to  avoid  the  messenger 
of  the  council ;  you  needn't  do  anything  —  simply 
pretend  to  be  ill ! 

CHONE 

111! 
[juDKE  bursts  out  ЫидМид."] 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  103 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


[To  TiLLE.]     May  you  really  fall  ill!     Oh,  God 
above ! 


What  do  you  mean  by  ill  ?     Нолу  can  I  make  my- 
self ill  all  of  a  sudden? 


[jUDKE  laughs  again.] 

TILLE 

Quite  simply.  You  lie  down  on  the  bed  here 
or  on  the  sofa,  you  cover  yourself,  and  if  any  one 
comes  we'll  say  that  you  have  fallen  ill.  It  hap- 
pens, you  know.  We'll  say  you've  caught  a  cold, 
or  that  the  fasting  didn't  agree  \vith  you  or  simply 
—  the  excitement  was  too  much. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  it  is  truly  enough  to  make  one  ill. 

TILLE 

And  if  any  one  comes  and  begins  to  talk  to  you, 
you  must  be  silent  and  act  as  though  you  didn't 
understand,  couldn't  hear  —  as  though  you  couldn't 
speak.  Let  them  talk  to  the  walls.  And  if  an 
answer  has  to  be  made,  then  I'll  make  it. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  may  your  tongue  be  paralysed! 

TILLE 

A  great  piece  of  good  fortune  will  come  to  you, 
mother ! 


104  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

CHONE 

So  it's  in  this  way  that  she  would  make  a  fool  of 
all  the  world !  But  I  must  ask  you :  What  will  be 
the  end  of  it  all?  Very  well,  granted  I  pretend 
illness,  that  I'm  lying  abed  even  now !  What's  to 
be  the  end  of  it  all?  I  can't  pass  my  life  in  bed! 
I  have  to  get  up  some  time! 

TILLK 

We  must  gain  time.  In  the  meanwhile  we'll  look 
for  the  treasure. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

She'll  look  for  the  treasure.  In  this  rain.  A  sin 
to  drive  a  dog  into  the  streets  in  such  weather. 

TILLE 

It  doesn't  matter.  It  won't  hurt  us.  To  dig 
graves  in  the  rain,  in  snow  and  frost,  all  for  a  dry 
crust,  you  think  that  right,  eh?  But  you  two  can 
stay  here.  No  one  asks  you  to  go.  Judke  and  I 
will  go  and  look.  Won't  we,  Judke,  we  two? 
We'll  wrap  up  well,  won't  we  ?  And  even  if  we  do 
get  wet,  we  won't  care,  will  we? 

JUDKE 

You  go !     Me  too ! 

TILLE 

You  realise  how  important  it  is  ? 


All  I  want  to  know  is  —  what  will  happen  after- 
ward?    What  will  come  about  then? 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  105 

TILLE 

When  exactly? 

CHONK 

I  mean  when  we  have  found  nothing. 

TILLE 

Why  should  we  find  nothing?  We  will  go  and 
seek  and  Judke  will  surely  remember. 

JUDKE 

I'll  remember,  I'll  remember,  hee  —  hee  —  hee! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  yes,  he's  likely  to  remember  —  oh,  so  likely ! 
May  his  head  be  as  crooked  on  his  neck  as  his  mind 
is! 

JUDKE 

I'll  remember  now  —  to  spite  you  — 

CHONE 

And  suppose  you  do  find  Schutschke's  grave, 
who  guarantees  you  that  there's  money  there? 

TILLE 

Well,  if  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst,  where's  the 
misfortune?  Five  Imperials  you  have!  And  the 
thirty-five  rubles  in  addition !  Well,  aren't  you 
almost  magnates?  When  in  your  lives  before  did 
you  ever  have  so  much  money  at  once? 

CHONE 

But  why  did  you  have  to  hurry  out  and  spend 
it  all? 


106  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

TILLE 

You  shouldn't  have  gone  at  me  yesterday  with 
your  raging  and  roaring.  If  I've  made  something 
of  a  muddle,  it  can't  be  helped  now.  I  didn't  im- 
agine that  others  would  present  themselves  imme- 
diately with  claims.  As  things  are,  the  important 
matter  is  to  gain  time  and  in  the  meanwhile  to 
search  — 

CHONE 

Oh,  didn't  I  hear  the  door  again? 

TILLE 

Lie  down  on  the  sofa  —  quick !  Hurry  and  lie 
down! 

[cHONE  stretches  himself  on  the  sofa.l 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Wrings  her  hands.]     Woe  is  me!     Woe  is  me! 

TILLE 

[After  a  brief,  tense  interval  of  ivaiting  goes  to 
the  door  and  looks  out.]  No  one  is  there.  It  was 
only  the  wind. 

CHONE 

[Sits  up.]  A  fine  praying  this  will  be!  At 
every  creaking  of  the  door  I'll  have  to  lie  down 
with  my  praying  shawl  and  my  phylacteries  on  me. 

TILLE 

I'll  tell  you  what  to  do!  Go  into  the  death 
chamber  and  pray  there. 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  107 

CHONE 

And  if  some  one  comes? 

TILLE 

Then  we  can  say  all  the  more  truthfully  that  you 
are  not  here. 

CHONE 

Woe  is  me,  what  has  she  brought  to  pass !  What 
has  she  brought  to  pass ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

And  I,  can  I  bear  it  in  this  room,  can  I  bear  it? 
At  least  drink  a  glass  of  tea  first.  I'll  bring  you 
something  to  eat.  Otherwise  you'll  have  to  eat 
lying  down.      [Hands  chone  a  glass  of  tea.] 

[tille  steps  up  to  the  bed,  takes  down  her  new 
gown  and  begins  to  put  it  on.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[JVatches  her.]  Well,  what's  the  meaning  of 
this?  Do  you  want  to  trick  yourself  out?  Would 
you  strew  salt  on  our  wounds ! 

TILLE 

I  only  want  to  try  it  on  once  more.  Doesn't  it 
fit  as  though  it  were  moulded  on  me?  This  button 
will  have  to  be  moved  a  bit,  don't  you  think  so? 
There's  a  little  too  mucli  fuhicss  here.  [Turns 
about  and  looks  at  herself  from  all  sides.]  AJi,  if 
you  want  something  good  you  must  go  into  the  big 
shops.  They  take  a  high  price,  but  they  give  you 
your  money's  worth. 


108  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You'll  see  what  you'll  get  for  it  when  you're 
forced  to  sell  it  or  pawn  it.  A  lot  you'll  get  — 
you  wiseacre ! 

[cHONE  groans.^ 

TILLE 

Let  be !  You'll  see  in  time.  Don't  borrow  trou- 
ble needlessly.  Judke  will  remember  and  we'll 
end  by  finding  a  great  treasure  and  become  rich  — 
so  rich  that  we'll  be  the  wealthiest  people  in  the 
city.  We'll  move  into  a  great  stone  house  in  the 
principal  street.  What  a  life  that  will  be!  Ah! 
I  with  my  tall  handsome  engineer  .  .  .   [Laughs.'\ 

CHONE 

[Enraged.l     Oh! 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

She's,  crazy  —  that's  all. 

TILLE 

If  you  can  imagine  a  thing  in  two  ways,  why 
imagine  it  the  worse  way  ?  I  don't  like  to  think  of 
evil  at  all;  I'd  much  rather  think  of  what  is  pleas- 
ant.    Oh,  what  things  haven't  I  imagined  .  .  . 

JUDKE 

[Laughs  suddenly.']  Well  be  rich,  hee  —  bee  — 
hee! 

[A  carriage  is  heard  stopping  at  the  door.'] 

CHONE 

[Jumps  up.]  Oh,  woe  is  me!  Some  one  has 
come! 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  109 


TILLE 


[Rushes  to  Лгш.]  Lie  down  quickly !  Why  do 
you  stand  there?  [Pushes  him.]  Hurry!  Hurry! 
[Takes  his  coat  off  and  puts  it  down.]  So,  now 
lie  down!  [Pulls  his  boots  off  and  covers  him.] 
Close  your  eyes ! 

CHONE 

Oh,  may  you  close  your  eyes  forever!  I'm  to 
lie  down  quite  simply,  well  and  strong  as  I  am,  and 
be  ill. 

JUDKE 

[Goes  to  the  bench.]  We'll  grow  rich  —  we'll 
grow  rich !     Нее  —  hee  —  hee ! 

TWO    MEN 

[Enter.]     Good  morning  to  you! 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

Good  luck  to  all ! 


THE    SECOND    MAN 

Much  luck! 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

But  see,  Reb  Chone  is  lying  down.  Why  does 
he  lie?  Good  morning,  Reb  Chone!  Why  do  you 
lie  down? 

CHONE 

[Moans.  Speaks  with  difficulty.]  Good  morn- 
ing. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

Good  morning,  Reb  Chone,  and  good  luck ! 


110  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Luck?     Why  do  you  wish  us  luck? 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

The  finest  congratulation  that  one  can  think  of 
is  your  due.  Whom  is  one  to  congratulate  if  not 
you?  Some  poor  devil  perhaps  on  the  birth  of  his 
tenth  child? 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

May  all  Jews  deserve  such  congratulations  as 
you  do !  If  God  were  to  favour  me  with  a  fine 
treasure  I'd  give  a  great  feast! 

TILLE 

\^At  the  heud  of  the  bed.'\  Do  you  see?  And 
you  take  it  into  your  head  to  fall  ill. 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  groatis  uTvd  stares  at  the  ceiling.'] 

[cHONE  gives  her  an  irritated  glance.^ 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

[Sits  down  on  a  chair  near  chone.]  Truly  — 
your  lying  down  ill  hardly  goes  together  with  find- 
ing a  treasure.     It  isn't  right  in  you. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

[Sits  down  too.]  Surely  it's  the  fasting  and  the 
excitement  of  yesterday. 

TILLE 

Naturally,  what  else? 
[cHONE  groans.l 


Лет  III]  THE  TREASURE  111 


THE    SECOND    MAN 


That's  the  way  it  goes.  If  a  poor  devil  does 
get  hold  of  some  money,  he  has  to  fall  ill. 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

Nonsense  —  fall  ill !  It'll  pass !  What  ails  you, 
Reb  Chone? 

CHONE 

Here  — 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

A  touch  of  cold?     You  ought  to  take  quinine. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

I  would  drink  a  great  deal  of  tea  with  raspberry 
syrup,  and  then  wrap  up  well  and  sweat  thor- 
oughly. 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

I  think  it  came  simply  from  the  excitement. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

That's  exactly  what  I  said.  It  would  be  best  to 
call  the  doctor. 

TILLE 

He  must  have  rest;  he  must  get  thoroughly 
rested. 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

Surely,  only  rest  —  just  that.  One  can  see  that 
you  don't  need  to  be  helped  out  with  advice.  Do 
you  know  why  I  have  come,  Reb  Chone  ?  You 
know  that  we  represent  the  Society  for  Providing 
Poor  Maidens  with  a  Dowry. 


112  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

CHONE 

{^Nods  and  groans.]     Yes,  yes  .  .  . 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

Then  I  needn't  enter  into  any  further  explana- 
tions. I  will  only  say  that  so  soon  as  it  became 
known  in  the  city  how  God  has  blessed  you  .  .  . 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  QTOans  from   the   bottom  of   her 
heart.} 

THE    FIRST   MAN 

[To  JACHNE-BRAINE.]  Blcssed  undoubtedly! 
You're  worrying  because  he  isn't  quite  well?  That 
will  pass.  That  can  happen  to  any  man,  whether 
he  has  found  a  treasure  or  not.  [To  chone.]  As 
I  was  saying:  So  soon  as  the  facts  became  known, 
we  said  to  ourselves  at  once  that  our  Society  was 
the  first  that  has  the  right  to  a  share  of  this  gift 
of  God.  And  why.''  Firstly  because  ProWding 
Poor  Maidens  with  a  Dowry  is  the  first  and  xnost 
distinguished  duty  for  us  Jews  —  for  it  conduces  to 
the  fulfilment  of  the  most  important  of  the  six 
hundred  and  thirteen  commandments,  namely,  the 
commandment:  "Be  fruitful  and  multiply!" 
Нее  —  hee  —  hee !  And  in  the  second  place  our 
Society  has  always  had  its  eye  on  you.  For  that 
reason  alone  it  is  but  right  that  it  should  receive 
your  first  gift.  And  if  you  ask  me  what  I  mean 
by  saying  that  our  Society  always  had  its  eye  on 
you  —  I'll  tell  you  and  you  mustn't  feel  of- 
fended .  .  . 

[JACHNE-BRAINE    groanS.} 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  113 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

Poverty  is  no  disgrace,  hee  —  hee  —  hee !  Peo- 
ple of  very  fine  descent,  of  the  very  highest  descent, 
have  turned  to  us  for  help. 

TILLE 

Aha  —  they're  aiming  at  me ! 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

And  so  we  thought  that  our  grave-digger  has  a 
daughter  (may  she  be  a  blessing  to  him!)  who 
must  be  married  off,  and  he  is  unfortunately  a  very 
poor  man  (not  of  to-day  be  it  spoken!)  and  so  we 
determined  that  if  God  sends  him  the  right  man  for 
his  daugliter  and  he  turns  to  us,  that  he  should 
find  an  open  hand. 

TILLE 

Well,  father,  you  see  I  didn't  have  to  worry ! 

THE    FIRST    MAN 

So  may  Gijod  help  us,  so  may  there  be  no  more 
poor  maidens  among  us  Jews  —  as  we  always 
thought  just  so.  And  now  that  God  has  helped 
you  so  and  that  you  can  give  your  daughter  all  the 
beautiful  and  many  tliousands  —  now  you  should 
repay  our  good  will  toward  you  with  interest.  So 
here  is  our  book,  Reb  Chonc,  and  if  you  can,  write 
down  into  it  such  a  sum  as  your  lieart  commands 
you  to  put  down,  and,  naturally,  the  more  the  bet- 
ter, and  as  a  reward  God  will  send  you  entire  heal- 
ing for  your  sickness.  [He  opens  the  book  and 
places  it,  together  renth  a  pencil,  on  the  table  in 

front    of   CHONE.] 


114  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

CHONE 

[Groan*.]     Tille,  oh,  but  I  feel  sick! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Who  has  been  sitting  on  the  bed,  drags  herself 
to  the  sofa.]  Oh,  he  really  feels  sick.  Oh,  he'll 
end  by  being  really  ill. 

TILLE 

[Busies  herself  about  her  father.]  He  must  get 
some  sleep.     He  didn't  close  an  eye  all  night. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

It's  the  excitement.  That  is  always  so.  I  know 
of  a  case  where  a  man  was  driven  crazy  through  a 
surprise  like  that.  He  was  a  poor  man  and  when 
he  suddenly  received  news  of  a  great  inheritance  he 
was  stricken  with  madness  on  the  spot. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

God  preserve  us  and  all  Jews  from  the  like. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

I  was  just  trying  to  show  you  what  excitement 
can  lead  to. 

TILLE 

The  best  thing  for  him  now  is  rest.  He  must 
rest  and  see  no  one  and  hear  no  one. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

How  were  we  to  know  that  he  would  fall  sick  all 
of  a  sudden?  Especially  since,  not  longer  ago  than 
last  night,  he  was  in  the  synagogue. 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  115 


THE    FIRST    MAN 


[Gets  up.]  There's  nothing  to  be  done.  I  sup- 
pose we  must  come  back  another  time.  Never  mind^ 
Reb  Chone,  you  won't  escape  us,  I  know. 


THE    SECOND    MAN 


[Gets   up   too.     To   TiLLE.]     Well,   but  you're 
there !     You  can  do  the  giving. 


TILLE 


Tell  me  yourself,  do  you  think  we're  interested 
in  anything  like  that  now?  Let  father  get  well 
first. 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

Exactly.  Give  a  gift  that  he  may  become  well. 
[A  carriage  is  heard  drawing  up  at  the  door.'\ 

TILLE 

I  think  I  hear  a  cab.     Maybe  it's  the  doctor. 
[cHONE  groans  very  loud.] 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE   riugs  her  hands  in  despair  and 
drags  herself  back  to  the  bed.] 

THE    SECOND    MAN 

Do  matters  really  stand  so?  Did  you  really 
send  for  the  doctor?  IBoth  men  move  azeay  from 
the  table  toward  the  left  side  of  the  room.] 

[two  men  enter,  are  somewhat  surprised  to  find 
the  first  two  there  and  say  somewhat  uncertainly : 
"Good  day!"  There  is  some  movement  and  mu- 
tual salutation:  "Oh,  Reb  Itsche ! "  "Reb 
Joseph!"  "Mr.  Rabinovitsk ! "  "Reb  Fai- 
vish!  "] 


116  THE  TREASURE  [Лет  III 

FIRST   MAN    OF    SOCIETY    FOR    POOR    MAIDENS 

Aha !  The  Society  for  the  Care  of  the  Sick  has 
come  too ! 

[cHONE  grasps  his  head.'] 

FIRST   MAN    OF    SOCIETY   FOR   THE    CARE    OF   THE    8ICK 

Look!     He's  actually  lying  down! 

SECOND  MAN  OF  THE  S.  P.  P.   M. 

[With  a  serious  expr^sion.]  It's  the  excite- 
ment.    They  have  smnmoned  the  doctor. 

SECOND   MAN   OF   THE   S.    C.    S. 

Is  he  as  ill  as  all  that? 

FIRST   MAN   OF   THE    S.    С   S. 

To  get  ill  just  now  is  stupid  of  you,  Reb  Chone! 

FIRST  MAN  OF  THE  S.   P.  P.  M. 

That's  what  I  said  too.  It's  simply  wrong. 
[They  all  seat  themselves  around  the  table.] 

FIRST  MAN  OF  THE  S.  C.  S. 

When  a  man  has  money  he  has  no  right  to  be  ill. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Moans.]     When  a  man  has  money  .  .  . 

FIRST  MAN  OF  THE  S.   С  S. 

You  mean  to  say,  little  mother,  that  illness 
doesn't  ask  to  whom  it  may  come.''  .  .  .  But  I  tell 
you  that  your  old  man  has  gotten  off  very  lightly 
and  so  have  you  all.  I  read  in  the  paper  not  long 
ago  that  in  some  city,  I've  forgotten  which  —  I 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  117 

think  it  was  in  Krementshug,  or  in  .  .  .  no,  it 
was  in  Krementshug  —  well,  that  there  a  man  re- 
ceived a  telegram  telling  him  that  he  had  won  fifty- 
thousand  rubles  —  and  when  he  got  through  read- 
ing the  telegram  he  simply  slammed  down  on  the 
floor  and  died.     He  had  a  stroke ! 

THE  SECOND  MAN  OF  THE  S.  P.  P.  M. 

And  I  know  of  a  case  .  .  . 

TILLE 

Those  aren't  very  pleasant  things  to  tell  here 
now! 

FIRST  MAN   OF  THE   S.   C.  S. 

Why,  God  preserve  us,  God  preserve  all  Jews 
from  such  misfortunes.  I  merely  meant  to  say: 
you  ought  to  thank  God  that  the  surprise  didn't 
bring  worse  evil  upon  you.  He's  indisposed.  But 
that  will  pass.  Won't  it,  Reb  Chone.''  Come,  get 
up,  let  us  drink  a  bit  of  brandy  and  here  is  our 
book.  Take  it  and  pledge  yourself  to  the  Society 
for  the  Care  of  the  Sick  for  a  fine,  large,  splendid 
gift. 

FIRST   MAN    OF    THE    8.    P.    P.    M. 

As  between  the  Society  for  the  Providing  of 
Dowries  for  Poor  Maidens  and  the  Society  for  the 
Care  of  the  Sick  —  the  maidens  ought  to  come  first. 

FIRST  MAN   OF  THE  S.  C.  8. 

No,  the  sick  ought  to  come  first!  And  then  we 
have  an  old  accounting  with  Reb  Chone.  We're 
slightly  related,  so  to  speak. 


118  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

Because  you  furnished  him  his  work,  I  suppose? 
Нее  —  heehee ! 

SECOND    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

In  spite  of  it  all  Reb  Chone  will  pledge  himself 
to  us  first.  If  for  no  other  reason  than  because  we 
were  here  first. 

SECOND   MAN   OF   THE   S.    С    S. 

Go  ahead  for  all  I  care.  Let  him  pledge  him- 
self to  you  first,  and  to  us  for  more ! 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

What  do  you  mean  by  more?  Is  Reb  Chone 
going  to  make  a  difference  by  giving  more  here  and 
less  there? 

SECOND   MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

He'll  give  more  to  each !  Нее  —  hee  —  hee ! 
There'll  be  enough  for  all,  won't  there,  Reb  Chone  ? 

CHONE 

My  head  is  splitting!     My  head  is  splitting! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  it's  really  enough  to  make  one's  head  split! 

TILLE 

You  must  have  a  good  sleep,  father.  Why  isn't 
the  doctor  here  yet? 

SECOND    MAN    OP   THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

It  is  true.  We  must  let  Reb  Chone  have  a  good 
rest. 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  119 

FIRST  MAN  OF  THE  S.  C.  S. 

The  Talmud  says  that  if  you  visit  a  sick  man  you 
take  from  him  one-sixtieth  of  his  sickness,  and  so 
we  are  taking  from  him  four-sixtieths  of  his  sick- 
ness. And  if  the  little  mother  will  be  so  kind  as 
to  give  us  something  to  drink  I'll  take  thirteen- 
sixtieths  of  his  sickness  upon  myself  at  once.  [To 
CHONE.]  Well,  why  do  you  lie  there  and  droop  your 
head.''  You  don't  know  what  to  do  лvith  all  the 
money?  Be  assured  you  will  кполу  well  enough 
once  you  are  quite  well  again. 

[Voices  are  heard  from  without.l 

A    CROWD    OF    MEN    FROM    THE    BURIAL    SOCIETY 

[Enter.]  Make  way!  Make  way!  The  pious 
brothers  are  here !  The  Burial  Society  has  come ! 
Much  happiness  to  you  !  Much  happiness !  Where 
is  the  brandy! 

SECOND    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

Sh-sh!     Reb  Chone  isn't  well! 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    BURIAL    SOCIETY 

What.''  He  isn't  well?  [Rushes  up  to  chone.] 
What  ails  you,  Reb  Chone?  Have  you  the  debtor's 
fever  ? 

SECOND    MAN    OF    THE    B.    S. 

Come,  get  up,  we'll  take  a  drink ! 

THIRD   MAN   OF  THE   B.   S. 

Drag  him  down  from  the  sofa !  What  lazy  ly- 
ing  around  is   that! 


120  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

FOURTH    MAN    OF    THE    B.    8. 

That's  true!  He'll  get  well!  He  has  no  right 
to  be  sick  when  we  are  here! 

TILLE 

Have  pity  and  leave  him  alone!  Don't  vou  see 
how  he  looks! 

SECOND   MAN    OP   THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

It  was  the  excitement.  They  have  summoned 
the  doctor. 

FIRST    MAN    OP   THE    B.    8. 

Nonsense  —  a  doctor  for  Chone !  Isn't  he  one 
of  our  brotherhood  and  for  us  brandy  is  the  best 
doctor.  We  don't  need  any  doctors,  do  we,  Chone  ? 
Eh  ?  Why  do  you  lie  there  like  an  old  woman  rat- 
tling your  teeth  } 

CHONE 

My  head !     Oh,  my  head ! 

FIRST    MAN    OP    THE    B.    8. 

If  a  man  has  a  headache,  it  is  written  in  the 
Talmud,  let  him  study,  and  studying  that  means 
drinking.     Get  up  and  stop  that  nonsense. 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    S.    С    S. 

That's  right!     That's  right!     Go  for  him! 

SECOND    MAN    OF    THE    B.    S. 

It's  an  insult  to  our  society  for  our  grave-digger 
to  play  us  a  trick  like  that.  To  lie  down  when  he 
ought  to  treat  us  to  drinks. 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  121 


FIRST    MAN    OP    THE    B.    S. 

Trot  out  the  drinks !  You  ought  to  have  mvited 
us  yesterday,  right  after  evening  prayer! 

SEVERAL 

[At  the  same  time.']  Bring  out  the  drinks!  The 
drinks !  He  can  lie  there,  and  we'll  drink !  We'll 
drink  twice  over  —  once  for  him  and  once  for  our- 
selves. [They  rush  up  to  chone  and  are  about  to 
drag  him  from  the  sofa."] 

[chone   moans,  closes  his  eyes,  and  protects  his 
pocket  with  his  hand.] 

FIRST    MAN    of    the    B.    8. 

Look  at  our  very  sick  man  holding  his  hand  over 
his  pocket.     You  can't  tear  it  away ! 

CHONE 

[Groans.]     Tille!     Tille! 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    B.    8. 

Here  we  have  money !  Here  we  have  money ! 
[He  holds  in  his  hand  several  bank-notes  and  a  few 
gold  coins  and  displays  them.]  Aha!  Here  are 
the  beautiful  Imperials,  the  golden  treasure  coins! 
And  here  are  the  bank-notes ! 

TILLE 

[Has  approached  the  man  from  behind  and 
snatches  the  money  from  his  hand.]  What  do  you 
mean  by  taking  the  money  yourself?  And  by  put- 
ting your  hand  into  another  man's  pocket  ?  Where 
do  you  think  you  are?  In  a  public-house?  Not 
even  to  have  pity  on  a  sick  man !     Drunkards  ! 


122  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Scarcely   able   to   speak.^     To  put  your   band 
into  a  man's  pocket  .  .  . 

[cHONE  groans.'] 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    B.    8. 

Ha?     What?     We?     Eh? 
[A  cab  is  heard  driving  up.] 

SECOND   MAN    OF   THE   S.    P.   P.    M. 

A  cab !     The  doctor ! 

[A    silence    falls.     The    men    move    away    from 
CHONE,  take  off  their  caps  and  whisper.] 

[the  president  of  THE  CONGREGATION  enters.] 

THE    MEN    OF    the    B.    S. 

The  president !     The  president ! 
the  president 

Why,  there's  a  regular  assembly  here!     And  he, 
o£  all  things,  is  lying  down ! 

[jachne-braine  bursts  out  in  tears.] 

judke 

[Hisses.]     He  —  he ! 

A   MAN    OF   THE   B.    S. 

He  lay  down  sick  on  account  of  the  excitement. 

second    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P,    M. 

They've  summoned  the  doctor! 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  123 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[Sits  down  on  a  chair  next  to  chone.]  WTiat 
ails  you? 

CHONE 

^Groans.]     Oh,  oh,  woe  is  me ! 

TILLE 

You  saw  for  yourself  last  night  how  ill  he  felt 
and  all  night  he  didn't  close  an  eye.  He  ought  to 
have  a  good  rest,  but  for  two  mortal  hours  it's 
been  swarming  with  people  here. 

\^Those  present  make  movements  as  if  to  go  and 
yet  remain.  A  cab  drives  up.  A  voice  is  heard: 
"  The  doctor !  "  Looks  of  suspense  are  turned  to 
the  door.l 

SOSKIN 

[Enters  with  a  lawver.  They  exchange  greet- 
ings with  the  PRESIDENT  and  with  a  few  of  the 
others.]  People  enough,  may  it  not  be  of  evil  to 
us!  [To  the  PRESIDENT.]  And  you're  here  too? 
[Points  to  CHONE.]  And  he,  if  you  please,  is  lying 
down! 

JUDKE 

[Hisses  angrily.]     He  —  he! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

On  account  of  the  excitement  he  is  somewhat  — 
h-m.  The  best  thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  go.  We 
must  let  him  rest  thoroughly  and  really  come  to 
himself. 


124  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

SOSKIN 

As  for  me,  Eeb  Chone,  I  have  brought  my  lawyer 
along.  If  he  could  explain  everything  to  you,  you 
would  see  that  I  am  right. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Let  him  be  now,  let  him  be !  What  is  there  be- 
tween you  and  him  anyhow .'' 

SOSKIN 

The  treasure  was  found  on  my  land  —  here  — 
[the  lawyer  is  about  to  speak.^ 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[To  SOSKIN.]  Aha!  So  that's  the  way  it  is! 
Very  well,  but  let  him  be  now.  You  just  recover, 
Reb  Chone.  Lie  down  as  you  are  doing  and  have  a 
good  rest.  You  don't  have  to  hurry  about  getting 
up  —  you're  not  going  to  dig  any  more  graves,  of 
course.  By  the  way,  when  do  you  plan  to  move 
out? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  woe  is  me ! 

CHONE 

[Almost  voiceless.l     Why  move  out  from  here.'' 

THE    PRESIDENT 

You  won't  want  to  continue  to  be  a  grave-digger ! 
We've  already  selected  another  man  in  your  place. 

CHONE 

[Sits  мр.]  Why  another  man.^  [More  vigor- 
ously.^ Woe  is  me,  I'll  be  left  without  bread!  [A 
general  movement  among  those  present.^ 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  125 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[^Bursts  out  weeping.]     Oh,  I'm  struck  to  death. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  does  that  mean:  you  will  be  left  without 
bread  ?     What  are  you  saying  there,  Reb  Chone  ? 

A    VOICE 

It's  the  fever  speaking  from  him. 

A    SECOND    VOICE 

He  has  entirely  forgotten  his  treasure ! 

CHONE 

What  treasure?     Where  is  there  a  treasure?     I 
have  none !     We'll  all  starve ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !     What  a  visitation  has  come  upon  us ! 

VARIOUS    VOICES 

How?     What?     No   treasure   at   all?     Ha,   ha, 
ha !     A  fine  subterfuge !     Ha,  ha,  ha ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Be  quiet!     Nonsense,   Reb  Chone!     You  won't 
wriggle  out  of  the  situation  by  such  talk ! 

SOSKIN 

Of  course  that's  mere  pretence!     You  have  the 
treasure  safe  enough! 

CHONE 

Subterfuge!    Pretence!    ^VЪere  are  they?     Yes- 
terday my  son  buried  his  dead  dog  and  found  a  few 


126  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

Imperials,  I  don't  even  know  how  many,  because 
this  daughter  of  mine  grabbed  them  and  ran  away 
with  them  and  spent  everything  and  in  addition 
spread  the  rumour  that  we  had  found  a  treasure. 
It  pleased  her  to  play  the  part  of  a  millionaire's 
daughter. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[Ironically.l  Is  that  so?  WTiy  didn't  you  tell 
us  that  story  yesterday  ? 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    S.    P.    P.    M. 

And  all  this  comedy  that  you've  been  playing  for 
our  benefit? 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    S.    C.    S. 

It's  all  a  lie ;  you  have  the  treasure ! 

SOSKIN 

Be  still !     Tell  me  then  where  he  buried  the  dog? 

CHONE 

How  do  I  know?  [General  laughter.]  Do  I 
know  where  he  foimd  it?  Do  I  even  know  how 
much  he  found  ?     Here  he  is  !     Let  him  tell  you ! 

JUDKE 

[Mutters.'}     In  the  graveyard. 

SOSKIN 

But  whereabouts?  In  the  new  field  or  in  the 
old? 

JUDKE 

Don't  remember! 
[Violent  laughter.} 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  137 


CHONE 


It's  no  laughing  matter.  He  really  can't  remem- 
ber.    He's  forgotten  луЬеге. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Well,  how  do  you  expect  us  not  to  laugh .''  WTiat 
does  that  mean ;  he  has  forgotten ! 

CHONE 

So  surely  as  I  live,  he  has  forgotten.  Clean  for- 
gotten ! 

JACIINE-BRAINE 

It  happens  to  him  very  often.  Especially  after 
one  of  his  attacks.  He'll  be  doing  a  thing  this 
minute  and  then  go  and  forget  it  at  once.  Then 
he  can't  remember  no  matter  what  happens. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Why  didn't  you  tell  us  all  that  yesterday? 

CHONE 

Because  .  .  .  because  .  .  . 

VOICES 

Aha!     Aha!     Out  лvith  it!     Why? 

TILLE 

[Who  has  hitherto  been  staring  movelessltj  at  the 
company,  now  turns  to  them.]  Because  it  pleased 
me  to  play  the  part  of  a  лусакЬу  woman  in  order  to 
get  a  husband.     Does  that  satisfy  you? 

VOICES 

He  —  he  I     What  do  you  say  to  her  ? 


128  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Nonsense!   [To  chone.]   Well,  then:  because  — 

CHONE 

Because  we  wanted  to  gain  time  to  find  the  hole. 
Maybe  a  treasure  is  really  buried  there. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

And  how  did  you  intend  to  set  about  finding  it? 

TILLE 

If  you  seek,  you  find ! 

VOICES 

Hi  —  hi !     Fine  excuses ! 

CHONE 

He  has  put  up  a  memorial.  Just  as  you  see  him 
there,  the  unfortunate  creature,  he  yet  put  up  a 
memorial  to  his  dog  in  the  form  of  a  little  board 
and  carved  upon  it  with  a  knife:  Schutschke,  rest 
in  peace ! 

[A  storm  of  laughter.'] 

SOSKIN 

[Cries  out.l  It's  a  put-up  job!  There's  not  a 
word  of  truth  in  it !  Yesterday  it  was  said  the  girl 
found  it,  to-day,  the  boy!  They  have  the  treas- 
ure! 

TILLE 

And  you  yourself  heard  father  say  in  the  syna- 
gogue yesterday  that  he  had  found  it.  If  you 
won't  believe  us  —  don't !     Believe,  if  you  want  to. 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  129 

that  we  have  the  treasure  —  say,  I  have  found  it  — 
and  that  we  don't  want  to  give  it  up. 

CHONE 

[Jumps  up  and  beats  on  the  table.'\  Be  silent, 
you !     Be  silent ! 

FIRST    MAN    OF    THE    B.    S. 

Look  at  him!     He  is  quite  well! 

CHONE 

That  was  only  a  notion  of  hers.  She  made  me 
lie  down  here ! 

VOICES 

Ha  —  ha — ha  — !  Pretended  to  be  sick!  A 
farce. 

CHONE 

She  did  that  to  gain  time  to  look  for  the  treasure. 
If  she  hadn't  .  .  . 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Well,  then,  we  liaven't  any  more  to  say  to  each 
other.  We  understand  the  whole  business.  But 
I'll  tell  you  this  much,  Chone:  If  your  son  should 
happen  to  remember  where  he  buried  his  dog,  or 
you  should  find  the  place  yourself  —  you  are  not 
to  believe  that  the  money,  if  found,  is  yours  and 
belongs  to  you.  The  graveyard  belongs  to  the  con- 
gregation and  so  does  the  treasure. 

TILLE 

A  just  decision,  I  must  say! 


130  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

[sosKiN  talks  eagerly  to  the  president  of  the 
CONGREGATION  who  seems  scarcely  to  listen  to 
him.'\ 

[several  men  of  THE  B.  s.  who  stand  near  the  door 
slip  out.} 

[first  man  of  the  s.  c.  9.  assumes  a  serious  ex- 
pression of  countenance,  lowers  his  face  and 
goes  out.} 

FIRST   MAN    of    the    S.    P.    P.    M. 

[LooJcs  out  at  the  window.}  It  seems  to  have 
stopped  raining.  I  have  no  time  at  all.  Good  day. 
{^Hurries  out.} 

[second  man  of  the  9.  P.  p.  M.  looks  out  at  the  win- 
dow, says  simply,  "  Yes,"  and  hurries  out  like- 
wise.} 

THE  president 

[/и  a  loud  voice  as  though  addressing  those  hur- 
rying out.}  Whoever  finds  the  treasure  will  have 
to  share  it  with  the  congregation  and  that  in  such 
a  manner  as  the  congregation  shall  decide. 

[second  MAN  OF  THE  s.  c.  s.  clears  his  throat  and 
walks  out.} 

SOSKIN 

\^Also  in  a  loud  voice.}  Excuse  me!  That  is  to 
say,  unless  the  treasure  be  found  in  the  new  field. 
I  have  sold  the  new  field  to  the  congregation  but 
not  what  is  buried  in  it.     Here  is  my  lawyer  .  .  . 

THE  lawyer 
On  the  basis  of  paragraph,  number  .  .  . 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  131 

THE    PRESIDENT 

We'll  talk  about  that  later.  Let  us  not  sell  the 
skin  before  the  bear  is  killed. 

SOSKIN 

I  simply  meant  to  sound  a  warning.  Come,  Mr. 
Mirkin.  Good  day.  \^He  leaves  with  the  law- 
yer.] 

first  man  of  the  b.  s. 

Well,  I'll  be  going  too.  [He  goes  and  the  other 
members  of  the  burial  society  follow  /ггтп.] 

TILLE 

See,  how  they  have  spread  out  over  the  grave- 
yard, like  grasshoppers  —  the  money  grubbers  ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Well,  and  you,  I  think,  have  heard  and  have  un- 
derstood me.     I  mean  all  of  you. 

CHONE 

Certainly.  Do  you  believe  that,  if  I  had  really 
found  the  treasure,  I  would  not  have  shared  it  with 
the  congregation.'' 

THE    PRESIDENT 

All  the  better.  And  since  you're  not  ill  you  can 
move  out  to-day. 

CHONE 

Why? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What's  that  again?     Move  out? 


133  THE  TREASURE  [Act  III 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Didn't  I  tell  you  that  we  have  another  grave- 
digger?     We  have  already  made  the  appointment. 

CHONE 

What  is  that?  You  want  to  take  the  treasure 
and  my  position  too? 

[jACHNE-BRAINE   Wuils   loudly.'] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

No  one  is  robbing  you  of  the  treasure;  you  have 
not  found  it.  What  your  daughter  has  bought  you 
may  keep  in  peace,  as  well  as  the  bit  of  money  you 
have  there.  No  one  demands  a  share  of  that. 
Keep  that  for  yourself  .  .  . 

CHONB 

And  nothing  else  .  .  .    !     We'll  starve  to  death ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

There's  been  no  agreement  that  you're  to  remain 
grave-digger  forever. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

For  fourteen  years  he  was  grave-digger  and  now 
in  our  old  age  we  are  to  go  without  bread,  we  are  to 
go  begging ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Well  —  there's  nothing  to  be  done  about  it.  \He 
turns  to  gro.] 

CHONE 

[Beats  his  fist  angrily  on  the  table. 1  I  won't 
stir  from  this  spot!     I  won't  move  out  from  here 


Act  III]  THE  TREASURE  133 

whatever  happens !  I've  been  grave-digger  for 
fourteen  years  and  I  won't  bear  to  be  kicked  out 
without  so  much  as  a  by  your  leave ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Oh,  very  well,  if  you're  going  to  talk  that  way, 
you  had  better  call  a  drayman  and  move  out  at 
once.     Otherwise  you'll  be  put  out  by  force. 

CHONE 

I  won't  move  out  if  it's  to  be  the  death  of  me! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Oh,  very  well,  very  well !     [He  hurries  out-l 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

\^Hurries  after  him,  weeping.']  How  can  your 
heart  consent  to  such  an  action .''  Surely  we  must 
find  a  place  to  live  first! 

CHONE 

You'll  not  go  looking  for  a  place.  I  won't  per- 
mit myself  to  be  thrown  out,  come  what  may.  .  .  . 
There's  still  a  Rabbi,  there's  still  such  a  thing  as 
a  thorough  discussion,  there's  still  such  a  thing  as 
a  court!  For  fourteen  years  have  I  been  grave- 
digger  and  now.  .  .  .  Oh,  oh,  oh!  [To  tille.] 
You  see  now,  don't  you,  to  what  you  have  brought 
us?  Oh,  I'll  .  .  .  Where  is  my  stick?  I'll  throt- 
tle you,  I'll  beat  you  to  death! 

JUDKE 

[Jumps  up.'\  No  beating  her!  I'll  remember! 
You  see! 


134  THE  TREASURE  [Лет  III 

TILLE 

Oh,  yes,  strike  me,  kill  me !  Take  a  stick  or  a 
knife !  I  suppose  I  could  help  you  look  for  it  then. 
You  had  better  calm  down.  You  have  really  no 
reason  to  raise  such  a  hue  and  cry.  You're  really 
rich  now,  and  if  you  should  need  more  money,  it 
will  be  forthcoming.  Do  let  me  take  care  of  that; 
you'll  .  .  • 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Incomes  hastily  back  from  the  door.'\  Oh,  there 
comes  the  whole  family  —  Lea  and  Freide  and 
Gelie  and  Bendet.  .  .  . 

CHONE 

[As  though  suddenly  awakened,  grasps  his 
head.]     Latch  the  door!     Oh,  latch  the  door! 


CURTAIN 


ACT  IV 

The  graveyard.  It  is  late  in  the  evening.  The 
rain  has  ceased  but  the  sky  is  still  clouded; 
only  here  and  there  glimmers  a  star.  At  the 
left  two  sides  of  the  grave-digger's  little  house 
are  visible.  The  front  wall  shows  a  door,  the 
side-wall  two  windows.  Behind  the  house  is 
the  death  chamber;  between  the  house  and  the 
death  chamber  is  the  great  gate  for  waggons. 
Diagonally  from  the  house  there  runs  a  broad 
path  intersected  by  side  paths.  To  the  right 
of  the  main  path,  behind  the  death  chamber,  as 
well  a^  to  the  left,  stand  rows  of  trees,  several 
•wooden  huts,  pretentious  grave-stones,  fenced 
family  plots,  plain  memorial  stones  and  mere 
tablets  of  wood.  In  front  of  the  house  staiids 
a  tree.  About  it  lie  chone's  possessions.  The 
cupboard  lies  on  its  side  against  the  window 
sill;  one  bed  stands  on  end  leaning  against  the 
tree.  The  sofa  stands  against  the  corner  of 
the  little  house,  its  head  against  the  cupboard, 
its  foot  toward  the  background.  Before  it 
stands  a  table.  The  chairs  are  scattered  along 
the  path.  Bedding  and  garments  lie  about  on 
the  cupboard  and  the  sofa.  The  graveyard 
swarms  with  people.  One  hears  the  sound  of 
innumerable  voices  and  sees  wandering  lights. 
Dark  figures  with  lanterns  in  their  hands  come 
and  go  through  the  gate  or  into  the  death 
135 


136  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

chamber.  On  the  table  stands  a  burning  lan- 
tern. JACHNE-BRAiNE  is  Seen  to  be  lying  on 
the  sofa.  Now  and  then  she  groans.  On  the 
bench  sits  judke,  makes  faces  and  laughs 
merrily  from  time  to  time,  a  man  and  A 
WOMAN  approach  from  the  nearest  side  path 
with  lanterns  in   their  hands. 

THE    WOMAN 

Oh,  how  tired  I  am  from  bending  over!  How 
my  back  hurts  me ! 

THE    MAN 

I've  heard  that  before,  I've  heard  that  before! 
Well,  what  do  you  expect?  We're  going  now  to  sit 
down.      [They  sit  down  on  the  chairs.] 

THE    WOMAN 

What  a  misfortune !  To-day  of  all  days  it  must 
rain  so  that  one  cannot  sit  down  in  the  grass. 

THE    MAN 

Would  you  rather  go  into  the  death  chamber? 
The  air  is  too  damp  here. 

THE    WOMAN 

Of  all  things !  I'd  die  of  fright  in  there.  Every 
one  of  my  limbs  is  trembling  now  from  walking 
about  amid  graves  by  night!  But  this  at  least  is 
in  the  open  among  other  people. 

[jACHNE-BRAINE    sighs.'\ 

THE    WOMAN 

[Starting  up.]     Oh,  my  good  Grod! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  137 

THE    MAN 

Why  are  you  so  frightened?  It's  the  grave-dig- 
ger's wife. 

THE    WOMAN 

[Sits  down  again.]  Oh,  all  my  blood  seemed 
to  be  leaving  me.  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the 
dead. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

One  of  the  dead !  Oh,  if  only  I  were  well  dead ! 
I  am  worse  than  dead.  The  dead  at  least  have  rest. 
And  I  haven't  even  that. 

THE    WOMAN 

Oh,  I  shouldn't  have  come  here  at  all!  The 
bending  over  is  not  so  bad,  but  the  fright  is  dread- 
ful. It'll  be  a  miracle  if  I'm  not  taken  in  labour 
before  my  time  — 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  woe  is  me,  even  the  women  with  child  go 
seeking  treasures ! 

THE    WOMAN 

Be  assured  that,  if  I  find  it,  I  have  a  very  good 
use  for  it. 

THE    MAN 

Are  you  rested  now?  We  didn't  come  here  to 
sit  around  idle! 

THE    WOMAN 

Oh,  come  on  then,  come  on !  [the  man  gets  up 
and  THE  WOMAN  arises  with  difficulty,  leaning 
against  him.'] 


138  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV. 

[jUDKE  laughs  aloud.l 

[the  woman  utters  a  cry,  swings  around,  grasps 
the  man  with  both  hands  to  steady  herself  and 
looks  about  her  with  wild  eyes.'\ 

THE    MAN 

[Loohs  around,  observes  judke  and  spits  con- 
temptuously.] Fy!  That's  their  son  —  the  crazy 
fellow !  [They  go  and  disappear  among  the  grave- 
stones.    THE  WOMAN  moans.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Looks  after  her  for  a  while.]  Oh,  oh!  Big 
with  child!  Her  time  almost  come!  She'll  kill 
the  child.  .  .  .  And  you,  will  you  stop  laughing? 
What  is  there  for  you  to  laugh  at  suddenly,  I'd  like 
to   know  ... 

[judke  laughs  a  short  laugh;  then  falls  silent 
again.  One  hears  the  far  sound  of  voices  and 
sees  the  shadows  of  dark,  moving  figures.] 

CHONE 

[Comes  through  the  great  gate,  holding  some- 
thing in  his  hand,  steps  up  to  jachne-braine,  not 
quite  steady  on  his  legs  and  bends  over  her.] 
There's  something  warming  for  you. 

jachne-braine 

[Starts  up.]  Oh,  may  the  .  .  .!  You've 
scalded  me! 

CHONE 

Serves  you  right!     There!     Take  it! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  139 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Can't  you  look  and  see  what  you're  doing  ?  [She 
takes  a  glass  of  tea  from  him.^  A  glass  of  some- 
thing warm  —  half  spilt !  And  you  smell  of 
whiskey !  You  went  and  got  drunk !  I  lie  out 
here  in  the  rain  and  the  wet  and  you  have  to  go 
to  the  pub  and  sit  there  and  swill ! 

CHONE 

\^Sits  down  on  the  cupboard.'\  You  had  better 
have  your  quarrels  and  explanations  with  that  fine 
daughter  of  yours,  not  with  me. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Old  sot! 

CHONE 

Quarrel  with  your  daughter,  I  say,  not  with  me ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

May  death  himself  soon  have  his  quarrel  with 
you  both! 

CHONE 

Go,  look  her  up  and  talk  to  her.  Go,  go,  she's 
looking  for  the  treasure.  First  she  stirred  up  the 
whole  town  and  now  she  runs  like  a  poisoned  rat 
from  one  end  of  the  graveyard  to  the  other  and 
hunts,  hunts  for  the  little  board  ..."  Schutschke, 
rest  in  peace "...  hay,  hay,  hay !  Oh,  why 
didn't  I  break  every  bone  in  her  body  yesterday? 
Then  we  would  have  known  nothing  of  this  mis- 
fortune. I  should  not  have  let  her  go  yesterday 
morning,  but  should  have  taken  all  the  money  from 
her.  I  should  have  throttled  her,  I  should  have 
broken  her  bones. 


140  THE  TREASURE  [Act  ly 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Why  didn't  you  do  it?     Why? 

CHONE 

Oh,  I  should  have  twisted  her  neck  —  hers  and 
yours  too! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  sot!  Why  mine?  Didn't  I  cry  out  at  once: 
Take  the  money  from  her ! 

CHONE 

I'll  tell  you  why !  ,  To  get  rid  of  you  all ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  that  I  may  be  rid  of  you  shortly !  One  can 
see  that  you  wish  to  destroy  us.  Why  didn't  you 
let  me  look  for  a  dwelling?     Why? 

CHONE 

You  had  better  tell  your  daughter,  the  millionaire 
lady.  She  will  build  you  a  house  of  stone.  And 
now  be  still.  Let  me  sleep.  [To  judke,  who 
laughs.^  And  you,  stop  laughing!  Why  do  you 
neigh  like  a  .  .  .  [Kicks  out  at  him.]  Hush! 
Let  me  sleep! 

•  JACHNE-BRAINE 

He  has  drunk  his  fill  and  he  lies  down.  And 
what  is  to  happen  now? 

[ CHONE  turns  his  back  to  her.'] 

[An  OLD  MAN  and  an  old  woman  appear.] 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  141 


OLD    MAN 


No,  it's  too  much  for  our  strength  and  too  much 
for  our  eye-sight.  .  .  .  We  may  have  passed  by  the 
little  board  twenty  times  and  not  have  seen  it. 

OLD    WOMAN 

If  one  could  at  least  sit  down  on  the  grass ! 
[They  both  sit  down  on  chairs.'\ 

OLD    MAN 

I  would  only  like  to  know  how  late  it  is. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

The  city  clock  struck  eleven  a  little  while  ago. 

OLD    WOMAN 

Oh,  how  that  startled  me.  I  forgot  entirely  that 
she  is  lying  here. 

OLD    MAN 

So  did  I!     Fy!     [He  spits.l 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !  How  low  have  I  fallen  that  I  must 
lie  in  the  open  and  scare  people!     [Weeps.'\ 

OLD    WOMAN 

If  you  must  be  lying  here,  at  least  lie  still.  You 
frighten  people  with  your  talk. 

OLD    MAN 

It's  after  eleven  already.  Do  you  know  that 
we've  been  walking  around  for  nearly  three  hours  .'* 


1Ш  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

OLD    WOMAN 

And  do  tell  me  to  what  purpose? 

OLD    MAN 

Why  don't  you  go  home  then?     Who  is  forcing 

you? 

OLD    WOMAN 

You  say  yourself  it  is  nothing  for  such  eyesight 
as  ours. 

OLD    MAN 

And  now  I  will  go  and  find  it. 

OLD    WOMAN 

Yes,  you  will  go  and  find  the  day  that  is  past. 

OLD    MAN 

Then  tell  me:  why  have  you  been  seeking? 

OLD    WOMAN 

How  do  I  know?  You  are  seeking  —  I  do  the 
same.  Perhaps  we  don't  need  the  treasure,  eh  ?  .  .  . 
Oh,  I  shall  fall  over ! 

OLD    MAN 

I'd  like  more  than  a  little  to  drink  a  glass  of 
something  warm.      {^He  sits  quietly  for  a  while.^ 

[old  woman  gives  a  short  snore.l 

[juDKE  laughs.l 

old  man 

[Looks  around  frightened,  sees  judke,  spits  and 
shakes  the  old  woman.]  Don't  fall  asleep  what- 
ever you  do ! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  143 

OLD    WOMAN 

Oh,  I  can't  hold  my  eyes  open  any  longer. 

OLD    MAN 

Have  we  coals  with  which  to  heat  the  samovar? 

OLD    WOMAN 

Where?     Here? 

OLD    MAN 

I  mean  at  home,  at  home ! 

OLD    WOMAN 

And  suppose  we  have  some  at  home,  what  of  it? 

OLD    MAN 

And  will  you  bring  out  the  dish  of  raspberries? 

OLD   WOMAN 

Behold  the  glutton !  I  am  ready  to  fall  over  and 
he  .  .  .! 

OLD    MAN 

If  you  promise  to  bring  it  out,  I'll  go  home  with 
you. 

OLD    WOMAN 

[Gets  up.l  And  what  will  become  of  the  treas- 
ure?    You  were  just  about  to  find  it! 

OLD    MAN 

[Rises  too.]  So  take  notice!  Tea  and  stewed 
raspberries.  Otherwise  I'll  stay  here.  [They 
walk  a  few  steps.  The  old  man  lights  up  both 
sides  of  the  path  and  looks  around.     At  the  turn 


144  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

of  the  path  he  remains  standing  and  says  plead- 
ingly to  the  OLD  WORIAN.]  Maybe  we  ought  to  look 
for  another  minute,  eh?  I  know  —  maybe  just 
now    we'll  .  .  .  eh? 

OLD    WOMAN 

[Angrily.']  There  he  goes  again.  Come  home! 
Come!  [They  disappear.  Various  dark  figures 
carrying  lanterns  appear  and  sit  down,  some  on 
the  chairs,  some  on  the  window  sill,  remain  for  a 
moment,  then  jump  up  and  disappear  again. 
Finally  from  among  the  graves  come  three  young 
MEN  engrossed  in  conversation  and  go  toward  the 
bench  by  the  window.] 

THE    FIRST 

My  plan  is  the  following:  We  mustn't  look 
around  the  headstones  at  all  — 

THE    SECOND 

This  bench  is  wet. 

THE    THIRD 

At  least  one  can  lean  against  it.  One's  legs 
give  way  beneath  one. 

THE    FIRST 

Will  you  listen  or  not?  We  mustn't  search 
among  the  grave-stones  at  all.  It  is  perfectly  clear 
that  the  crazy  boy  buried  his  dog  either  behind  the 
fence  or  under  a  tree.  Therefore  I  am  of  the 
opinion  that  .  •  . 

THE    SECOND 

Why  is  that  so  clear? 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  145 


THE    FIRST 

Wliy?  It's  very  simple.  He's  not  so  com- 
pletely crazy  and  has  probably  so  much  under- 
standing left  that  he  did  not  bury  his  dog  among 
the  graves  — 

THE    THIRD 

And  to  write  on  the  headstone:  "  Rest  in 
peace !  "  that  is  sensible^  too,  I  suppose. 

THE    SECOND 

You  just  try  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  a  fool's 
mind!  It  may  just  have  occurred  to  him  to  bury 
his  dog  next  to  his  grandmother's  grave.  [Ea- 
gerly.^ Do  you  know?  That's  rather  a  good 
idea!  I  really  wouldn't  mind  knowing  where  his 
grandmother  is  buried. 

THE    FIRST 

And  I  tell  you,  you  had  better  follow  me  and 
let  us  look  under  the  trees  and  along  the  fence. 

THE    SECOND 

People  have  looked  all  over  —  under  the  trees 
and  beside  the  fence  and  behind  the  fence. 

THE    THIRD 

Do  you  know,  too,  that  the  whole  town  is  assem- 
bled here.'' 

THE    SECOND 

Only  this  town?  I  wager  you'll  find  people  here 
from  the  neighbouring  communities.  [Suddcnlt/  in 
the  backfjnmnd  arise,  niid  approaeh,  the  hysterical 
cries  of  a   xcoman.      The   young   men   get   up  and 


140  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IVl 

go  in  the  direction  of  the  cries.     ^A  young  woman 
is  led  in,  followed  by  several  people.'] 

THE    SECOND 

[Го  one  of  the  newcomers.]     What's  tfiat? 

THE    NEWCOMER 

She  took  fright!  It  seemed  to  her  that  one  of 
the  dead  was  standing  behind  her 

A    VOICE 

Take  her  into  the  death  chamber. 

OTHER    VOICES 

No,  no !  She'll  be  frightened  again  in  there ! 
Take  her  home !  Take  her  into  the  pub  across  the 
way!  [The  woman  is  led  out  through  the  great 
gate,  her  cries  are  lost  in  the  distance.  Several 
remain  sitting  on  the  bench  by  the  window;  then 
they  jump  up  and  disappear  among  the  graves.] 

THE    THIRD 

Well,  then,  come  on !     Let  us  look  further. 

THE    FIRST 

You'll  see !  I'll  look  under  the  trees  and  by  the 
fence. 

THE    SECOND 

Under  the  trees  or  on  the  trees  for  all  I  care ! 
If  only  we  find  it! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Groans.]  They'll  get  convulsions  here! 
They'll  stay  till  they  die!     They'll  —  God  knows 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  147 

what  all  .  .  .  Oh,  oh,  oh!     [The  sky  is  now  clear 
and  full  of  stars.     The  moon  shines.^ 

[jUDKE  suddenly  laughs  aloud  and  jumps  up.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  ails  you  to-day?  What  is  the  matter  with 
you?  For  six  solid  hours  you  have  not  ceased 
laughing.     Have  you  gone  crazy  entirely  ? 

JUDKE 

[Steps  up  to  her  and  whispers,  almost  choked 
with  laughter.]  You  see  what  I  do.  I  remember. 
Oh,  I'll  do  something!  Tille  taught  me  how  .  .  . 
told  me  .  .  .  Oh,  I  remember  .  .  .  watch! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You'll  remember,  will  you?  Yes,  I  see  you  re- 
membering. 

JUDKE 

I  remember.  I'm  strong  .  .  .  I'll  see  .  .  .  Oh, 
I'll  do!  [He  laughs  and  goes  back  to  his  former 
place.] 

JACHNE-BRAINB 

What  will  you  do?     What  has  she  taught  you? 

JUDKE 

[Laughs.]  Wait  and  see!  You  see!  Oh.  .  . 
I  .  .  .  Tille  smart  .  .  . 

[a  woman  comes  running  from  the  background. 
She  carries  a  sleeping  child  and  is  accompanied 
by  a  LITTLE  GIRL,  zvho  zveeps  and  carries  a 
lantern.] 


148  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


THE    LITTLE    GIRL 


I  want  to  go  to  sleep !  I  want  to  go  home.  I 
want  to  go  to  sleep!     I  want  to  go  home. 

THE    WOMAN 

Oh,  come  on,  come  on !  You  child  of  ill  omen ! 
Here  I  have  a  chance  to  be  eased  of  all  my  miseries 
—  and  suddenly  she  is  overcome  with  sleep.  \^Dis- 
appears  through  the  gate.'] 

[four  boys  come  running  along  with  paper  lan- 
terns. Three  sit  down  upon  chairs;  the  other 
stretches  himself  out  on  the  table.] 

A  boy 

[^Continuing  the  story f  he  has  been  telling.] 
.  .  .  And  when  he  saw  him  he  dr^w  ofF  his  left  boot 
and  threw  it  at  him  and  cried:  "  Stop,  you  are 
mine !  "  And  at  once  the  fire  disappeared  and 
under  the  boot  was  a  deep  hole  in  the  earth  and  in 
that  hole  lay  the  treasure. 

THE  SECOND  BOY 

And  my  grandfather  told  me  a  different  story 
again.  There  was  once  a  very,  very  great  forest 
with  tall,  dense  trees,  so  that  one  could  not  make 
one's  way  among  them.  And  in  that  forest  a  sound 
of  singing  Avas  to  be  heard,  a  sound  so  beautiful 
and  soft  as  though  the  loveliest  voice  in  the  world 
were  singing  there.  And  so  sлveet  was  the  song 
that  no  one  could  tear  himself  away  and  all  desired 
to  see  who  was  singing  there.  But  it  лvas  difficult 
to  penetrate  into  the  forest.  And  when  those  луеге 
found  who  could  make  their  way  among  the  trees, 
a  great  snake  came  and  killed  them.     Thus  no  one 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  149 

could  learn  who  was  singing  so  beautifully  —  yet 
all  desired  to  learn  it.  Now  in  the  little  town  there 
lived  a  very  pious  man.  To  this  man  it  was  re- 
vealed in  a  dream  that  whosoever  could  win  to  the 
place  Avhence  the  song  sounded  would  find  a  treas- 
ure there.  And  in  this  same  dream  he  was  com- 
manded not  to  go  upon  the  quest  himself,  nor  to 
send  another  until  the  chosen  one  came.  And  in 
the  town  dwelled  a  poor  man  who  was  also  very 
compassionate  and  once  the  poor  man  came  to  the 
pious  man  and  wept  grievously.  "  Great  Rabbi, 
help  me !  "  he  cried.  "  How  am  I  to  help  you,  my 
son?"  asked  the  pious  man.  And  the  poor  man 
made  answer,  "  I  have  given  my  last  shift  to  one 
who  had  none  at  all;  I  have  given  the  last  bit  of 
straw  from  my  resting  place  to  one  who  had  no 
straw  to  lie  upon  at  all.  Now  I  have  nothing  left 
and  can  help  no  one."  \Vben  the  pious  man  heard 
this  he  knew  that  the  chosen  one  had  come,  and  he 
spoke  thus :  "  Fast  for  three  days  and  three  nights 
and  repeat  the  psalms  thrice  each  day,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  fourth  day  set  out  for  the  forest 
and  for  the  place  >vhence  the  singing  is  heard.  And 
count  the  stones  upon  the  Avay  which  you  will  find 
to  the  number  of  three  hundred  and  fourteen,  for 
so  many  are  the  letters  with  which  the  name  of  the 
Eternal  is  named,  and  the  last  stone  of  all  you  are 
to  pick  up  and  take  with  you.  When  you  have  en- 
tered into  the  forest  and  see  the  snake  do  not  be 
affrighted  and  run  away,  but  say  seven  times, 
'  Food  has  come  out  of  the  fire,  and  sweetness 
from  strength,'  and  hurl  the  stone  at  the  snake. 
What  will  come  to  pass  further,  you  will  see  for 
yourself."  The  poor  man  did  as  the  pious  man  had 
bidden  him:  he   fasted   for  three  days  and  three 


150  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

nights  and  thrice  upon  each  day  he  repeated  the 
psalms.  On  the  fourth  day  he  went  into  the  for- 
est, to  the  place  whence  the  singing  sounded, 
counted  the  stones  up  to  three  hundred  and  four- 
teen, lifted  up  the  last  stone  and  entered  into  the 
forest.  He  could  scarcely  force  his  way  among 
the  trees;  the  branches  beat  his  face  and  the  hard 
twigs  tore  his  face  and  his  body.  But  he  went 
farther  and  farther  and  ever  nearer  and  nearer  to 
the  place  Avhence  the  singing  came.  And  when  he 
was  quite  near  to  it,  the  song  fell  silent  and  from 
a  cavern  leaped  a  great  snake  and  opened  its  jaws 
and  was  about  to  devour  him.  But  he  remembered 
what  the  pious  man  had  told  him,  and  was  not  af- 
frighted and  ran  not  away  but  said  seven  times: 
"  Food  has  come  out  of  the  fire  and  sweetness  from 
strength,"  and  hurled  his  stone  against  the  snake. 
Then  suddenly  the  snake  crumbled  and  turned  into 
a  great  heap  of  money,  a  veritable  mountain  of 
golden  coins.  [The  speaker  is  silent.  The  silence 
lasts  for  a  space.'] 

THE    BOY 

[On  the  table. 1     I'm  wet  through  .  .  . 

THE    THIRD    BOY 

[To  the  teller  of  the  tale.]  Well,  and  what 
happened  then.'' 

THE    SECOND   BOY 

What  more  could  happen.^  There  is  nothing 
more.  The  poor  man,  I  suppose,  took  all  the  money 
home  with  him  and  became  very  rich.  My  grand- 
father told  me  no  more. 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  ISl 


THE    THIRD    BOY 


I  suppose  he  divided  the  whole  treasure  among 
the  poor? 


THE    FIRST    BOY 


Do  you  think  so  ?  I  don't !  A  treasure  is  not 
a  bundle  of  straw;  one  doesn't  give  it  away  so 
easily. 


THE    BOY 


[On  the  tahle.l  My  mother  will  beat  me.  She 
bade  me  stay  at  home  and  look  after  my  little  sis- 
ter, and  she  came  here  herself.  .  .  .  She'll  half 
kill  me.  \^He  lifts  his  legs  and  turns  himself 
around.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Get  down  from  the  table !  You'll  end  by  break- 
ing it! 

[the  boys  jump  up  frightened,  look  around  and 
disappear,  laughing,  amid  the  trees.] 

l^The     PRESIDENT     op     THE     CONGREGATION,     SOSKIN, 

and  a  crowd  of  men  come  from  the  death  cham- 
ber.'] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

I  have  been  telling  you  that  there's  no  use  for 
us  to  quarrel  now.  Let  us  wait  and  see  when  the 
time  comes. 

SOSKIN 

But  the  law  is  as  I  say. 


153  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


THE    PRESIDENT 

May  you  take  no  hurt  from  saying  that  over 
twenty  times.  I  know  the  law  too.  Let  that  suf- 
fice.    How  late  is  it  now,  eh.'' 

ONE  OF  THE  BYSTANDERS 

After  eleven. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Three  times  I  have  sent  the  crier  to  bid  people 
stop  searching.  They  will  destroy  the  Avhole 
graveyard,  and  anyhow  find  nothing  at  night.  It 
did  no  good.  No  one  moved  from  the  spot.  Still, 
I  don't  want  to  send  for  the  police.  I'll  have  it 
cried  out  again.  [They  all  disappear  in  the  back- 
ground.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Calling  after  them.]  After  fourteen  years  of 
hard  work  one  is  thrown  out  and  must  lie  in  the 
street!  It  takes  the  heart  of  a  murderer  to  act 
so!     Who  ever  heard  of  the  like.'* 

JUDKE 

[Angrily.'\  Hay!  Hay!  I'll  fix  .  .  .  I'll 
show  .  .  .   [Laughs.] 

THE  crier's  voice 

[Is  heard  among  the  graves.]  The  council  bids 
you  go  home  полу  and  come  back  in  the  morning  I 
[The  voice  is  gradually  lost  in  the  distance.  Men 
and  women  come  from  all  directions.  Some  go 
toward  the  gate,  others  toward  the  death  chamber, 
yet  others  remain  sitting  on  the  bench  and  on  the 
stairs.] 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  153 


A  MAN 

[On  the  bench.']  And  if  the  council  has  it  cried 
out  from  to-day  till  to-morrow,  do  you  suppose 
any  one  will  go  ?  Nonsense !  Especially  not  now 
that  the  moon  has  come  up. 

SECOND  MAN 

[Sitting  on  a  chair.]  Look  at  me!  My  legs 
will  scarcely  support  me;  in  spite  of  that  I  won't 
go.  I'll  tell  you  the  trutli.  Here  I  sit  and  it 
vexes  me  bitterly  that  I  do  so.  For  would  you  be- 
lieve it.''  It  seems  to  me  that  especially  this  min- 
ute—  if  I  were  seeking,  I  would  find.  I'm  going 
to  run  along  again,  too.  [He  jumps  up  and  has- 
tens away.] 

THIRD    MAN 

[On  the  bench.]  Oh,  I'd  like  to  go  home  and 
have  a  good  sleep  —  but  only  if  all  go.  If  all  were 
willing  to,  I'd  go  too.  I'm  so  sleepy,  so  sleepy! 
And  I  had  such  a  hard  fast  yesterday.  [He 
yawns.] 

FOURTH  MAN 

And  it's  so  late,  too  —  almost  midnight.  The 
(dead  will  soon  arise  to  say  their  prayers. 

A    WOMAN 

Ah,  don't  speak  so !  My  very  heart  is  ready  to 
fall  out  with  terror !  I  look  and  while  I  am  look- 
ing I'm  afraid  to  turn  my  eyes  away  from  the 
place.  It  always  seems  as  though  one  of  the  dead 
were  standing  next  to  me. 


154  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV. 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Don't  take  the  trouble  to  ask  how  I  feel.  In 
addition  people  are  coming  in  white  garments. 

A  MAN 

It  is  the  truth,  one  feels  uncanny  here.  But  to 
sit  here  and  stare  into  space  is  still  worse.  It's 
not  so  bad  while  one  is  seeking.  But  to  sit 
here  .  .  . !  Surely  one  gradually  comes  to  see 
ghosts. 

ANOTHER    MAN 

Who  was  the  wiseacre  that  began  to  talk  about 
the  dead.'* 

THE  FOURTH  MAN 

If  any  one  is  afraid,  let  him  go  home. 

A    WOMAN 

Woe  is  me!  Stop  talking!  I'm  afraid  I'll 
soon  .  .  . 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Why  do  we  sit  here  ?  Let  us  rather  go  and  seek ! 
Shall  we  all  go  together.'' 

THIRD    WOMAN 

Yes,  let  us  go  together.  And  whoever  finds  it, 
finds  it. 

\They  all  arise  and  goJ] 

A    WOMAN 

I'm  so  afraid  to  look  behind  me.  And  there  be- 
hind .  .  .  behind  us  ...  oh  I 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  155 

A    MAN 

IHarshly.']     Don't  chatter!     Stop! 

SECOND  MAN 

A  woman  must  chatter.  She  must.  Don't  look 
behind  you,  then!  Seek!  We  are  all  fright- 
ened .  .  .  but  one  must  be  silent.  So  keep  still 
and  hunt  .  .  . 

\_They  disappear  and  silence  ensues.^ 

[tille,  in  her  new  garments,  a  veil  hiding  her  face, 
comes  through  the  gate,  approaches  jachne- 
BRAiNE  and  bends  over  her  to  see  whether  she 
is  asleep.^ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

l^Starts  ир.]     Who  is  it? 
[tille  laughs  and  lifts  her  veiL'\ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  you !  How  you  frightened  me !  What  kind 
of  a  veil  is  that.''  And  what  is  that  play  acting 
for.? 

TILLE 

[Laughs.']  I  went  to  the  station  to  see  my  be- 
trothed, the  engineer  for  thirty  thousand  rubles.  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Wliat?     Oh,  that  .  .  .! 

TILLE 

[Sits  down  on  the  sofa.]  He  was  to  come  at 
eleven,  so   I   went  to   the  station  to   see   him.     I 


156  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

thought  the  marriage  broker  would  probably  go  to 
meet  him,  so  I  put  on  this  veil  that  he  might  not 
recognise  me.  I  wanted  to  see  how  my  tall,  hand- 
some engineer  looks,  whom  I  might  have  bought 
for  thirty  thousand  rubles.  But  the  broker  was 
not  at  the  station.  So  I  don't  know  whether  he 
cheated  me,  pocketed  the  money  and  didn't  wire  at 
all,  or  whether  he  sent  a  second  wire  telling  the 
engineer  not  to  come.  Or  perhaps  he  was  afraid 
to  show  himself  to  my  supposed  betrothed,  and 
therefore  didn't  go  to  the  station  at  all,  and  so  my 
handsome,  tall  engineer  Avorth  thirty  thousand 
rubles  had  to  drive  all  by  himself  to  a  hotel,  had 
no  one  to  meet  him,  and  is  now  making  inquiries 
in  the  city  only  to  discover  .  .  . 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

^Pushes  TiLLE.]  Go,  go  out  of  my  sight.  She 
can  laugh  at  it  all! 

TILLE 

Hush!  Don't  push  me!  Don't  you  see  I'm 
putting  myself  in  his  place.  And  I  feel  awfully 
sorry  for  him.  The  poor  fellow  comes  here,  think- 
ing he'll  fetch  thirty  thousand  rubles  and  a  bride 
in  addition,  and  now  he  has  to  go  back  home  with 
nothing!  I  am  convinced  that  he  has  come  and 
that  he  is  here.  Several  young  men  came  from  the 
train,  and  they  were  all  handsome  —  each  hand- 
somer than  the  other.  At  least,  it  seemed  so  to 
me.  There  are  times  when  all  young  men  seem 
handsome  to  me. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  do  you  say  to  her! 


Act  IVJ  THE  TREASURE  157 


TILLE 


Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha!  But  now  I'm  frightfully  tired 
and  I  haven't  even  a  place  where  I  can  lie  down. 
And  these  grasshoppers  will  never  grow  tired  of 
looking,  oil,  Judke,  why  don't  you  remember? 
Don't  you  remember  yet? 


JUDKE 


I  strong  ...  I  try.     I  remember!    I'll  do  it  — 
see  .  .  .   [^Grimaces  and  laughs.^ 


TILLE 


But  you  don't  remember.     I  can't  wait  for  you 
and  I'll  have  to  amuse  myself  somehow. 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


Amuse  yourself?     What?     Isn't  all  this  enough 
for  you? 


TILLE 


l^Gets  up,  takes  the  lantern  from  the  table  and 
goes  toward  the  right.]  One  can't  sleep  here  any- 
how. .  .  I  might  as  well  be  hunting  in  the  mean- 
time .  .  .   [5Ле  disappears.'] 

JUDKE 

[Jumps  up.]  I  follow.  I  want  to  see  amuse- 
ment.     [Laughs  and  limps  away  after  tille.] 

[JACHNE-BRAINE     grOanS.] 

[For  a  while  there  is  silence.  Then,  from  differ- 
ent sides,  three  men  and  two  women  approach 
the   bench.} 


158  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

A    MAN 

You  might  as  well  look  for  the  day  that  is  past. 

SECOND   MAN 

Why  are  we  doing  it?     You  look  and  look  .  .  . 

A    WOMAN 

And  our  legs  are  growing  lame. 

A    THIRD     MAN 

And  the  most  vexatious  part  is  this  —  you 
search,  you  ruin  your  eyes,  bend  your  back  double, 
and  at  every  moment  you  must  think  that  some 
one  else  has  already  found  the  treasure  in  another 
place. 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Oh,  suppose  some  one  else  has  really  found  it? 

FIRST    MAN 

Well,  then,  he  has  found  it  —  that's  all. 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Very  fine !  And  in  the  meantime  we  go  on  look- 
ing! 

SECOND     MAN 

The  matter  stands  thus :  Even  if  some  one  finds 
it,  he  will  not  very  easily  be  able  to  make  a  secret 
of  it.  A  treasure  is  not  like  a  purse  that  you  can 
pick  up  and  slip  into  your  pocket.  First  he  must 
dig  it  up  and  then  he  must  make  some  plan  for 
getting  it  away.  And  all  the  while  hundreds  of 
people  are  swarming  around  here,  fortunately. 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  IS» 

THIRD    MAN 

Hundreds  ?     Thousands ! 

SECOND     MAN 

All  the  better!  And  each  keeps  watch  on  the 
other.  So  no  one  wUl  be  able  to  sneak  anything 
away. 

SECOND    WOMAN 

But  suppose  some  one  finds  it  and  doesn't  begin 
to  dig  at  once,  but  makes  a  sign  and  comes  back 
to  get  it  some  other  time? 

FIRST   MAN 

Look  you!     That's  a  real  subtle  plan!' 

SECOND     MAN 

That  won't  avail  either.  The  graveyard  will  be 
well  watched  so  long  as  the  treasure  is  not  found. 

THIRD    MAN 

I  don't  believe  they'll  stop  looking  at  all. 

FIRST   MAN 

I  certainly  won't.  What  have  I  to  lose?  Day 
in  and  day  out  I  wander  about  the  streets,  sniffing 
about  and  finding  nothing.  As  it  is  I  am  seeking 
for  something  here  and  may  find  a  treasure  in  the 
end. 

SECOND  MAN 

Don't  worry!  There  are  many  more  like  you. 
They  hastened  to  close  their  shops  to-day  as  though 
it  were  a   "  short  Friday,"   only  in  order  to  run 


160  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

here.  And  I'll  wager  that  half  the  shops  will  be 
closed  to-morrow  because  the  salesmen  and  the 
saleswomen  will  all  be  here. 

THIRD    MAN 

What  do  you  expect?  I  am  a  school  teacher  and 
I  gave  the  children  a  half  holiday  to-day.  And 
why  not.'*  Hasn't  a  teacher  some  use  for  a  treas- 
ure too? 

FIRST  WOMAN 

A  treasure!  Surely  you  won't  keep  the  whole 
treasure  for  yourself? 

THE    TEACHER  ||k 

Let  be !  My  share  will  suffice  me  if  only  I  find 
it» 

SECOND   WOMAN 

All  the  while  this  place  is  alive  with  people. 

SECOND  MAN 

To  begin  with,  I'd  be  content  with  as  many 
thousands  as  there  have  been  sins  committed  here 
to-day. 

FIRST    WOMAN 

Oh,  what  talk !     The  graveyard  is  full  of  people. 

THE   SECOND   MAN 

How  foolish  you  are!     I  have  myself  seen  .  .  . 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Let  us  hear  what  he  has  seen. 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  161 

FIRST    MAN 

Be  still.     Don't  interrupt  him. 

THE  TEACHER 

Ah,  empty  chatter.  [Gets  up  and  hurries 
away.'\ 

FIRST    MAN 

The  teacher  has  run  away  from  us. 

SECOND    WOMAN 

Well,  what  is  it  that  you  saw? 

SECOND  MAN 

I  suppose  you  would  really  like  to  know  it? 
Ha,  ha,  ha! 

tille's 

[Voice,  at  the  right,  from  а/яг.]  Here  —  here 
—  here !     It  is  found !     Found !     Found ! 

FIRST  WOMAN 

Ah !     Do  you  hear  ?     Found ! 

[All  four  rush  off  in  the  direction  of  the  voice. 
From  all  sides  people  com.e  running  and  cry- 
ing eagerly :     "Found!     Found!"] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Chone !  Chone !  Get  up,  they  have  found  it ! 
Get  up  !  Look  at  the  drunkard  !  Chone  !  Chone  ! 
[She  rises  from  the  sofa  and  shakes  him.^  Get 
up  !     They  have  found  it ! 


162  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


CHONE 


[Half  asleep.']  You  go  and  have  it  out  with 
your  daughter  —  not  with  me. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Have  it  out  with  her,  eh?  Oh,  you  drunkard! 
The  little  board  has  been  found  and  the  treasure! 
Look  how  he  lies  there !  As  if  it  were  none  of  his 
business  at  all!     Will  you  get  up? 

CHONE 

I  won't  move  away! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

You  drunkard!  [^Gives  him  a  push  so  that  he 
almost  falls  down  from  the  chest  of  drawers  and 
goes  in  the  direction  of  the  voices.'^ 

tille's 

[Voice  in  the  background  but  nearer  now.] 
Here!  Here!  The  little  board!  The  little 
board!  l^All  run  toward  her.  Cries  are  heard: 
"  There  it  is !     There !  "] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Remains  standing,  slowly  wrings  her  hands  and 
goes  back  to  the  sofa.~\  Oh,  she  ought  to  be  pun- 
ished !  Oh,  some  one  should  take  her  and  .  .  . ! 
Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  [She  sits  down,  shaking  her 
head.] 

TILLE 

[Behind  the  death  chamber.]  Here !  Here ! 
Here!  Behind  the  death  chamber!  Behind  the 
death  chamber!     [All  rush   thither.] 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  163 

VOICES 

That  can't  be  true !  First  one  place  and  then 
another^  and  now,  of  all  places  .  .  . !  Some  one  is 
fooling  us ! 

[tille  tvithout  her  lantern  steals  forth  from  be- 
hind the  walls  of  the  death  chamber,  rushes 
to  the  sofa  and  throws  herself  on  it  face  down- 
ward,  laughing.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[With  clenched  fists.]  Oh,  oh,  oh!  [The 
sound  of  voices  approaches  and  a  crowd  of  people 
comes  from  behind  the  death  chamber  to  the  main 
path.  In  the  front  row  a  man  is  being  led  who 
tries  to  tear  himself  away.  Next  to  him  walk  a 
woman  and  a  boy.] 

THE    MAN 

[Who  is  being  led.]  I  won't  let  you  seek  the 
treasure !  It's  my  treasure !  I  buried  it !  You 
mustn't  dig  it  up !  God's  curse  be  upon  you  all ! 
I  won't  permit  you!  What  do  you  need  treasures 
for  ?  The  whole  world  is  not  enough  for  you. 
Why  do  you  want  to  rob  me?  I  won't  let  you  do 
it!     I  won't  let  you! 

THE    AVOMAN 

Help,  good  Jews,  help !  He  has  gone  mad ! 
Oh,  save  us!  Help!  [The  crying  is  lost  in  the 
distance.] 

[tille  stops  laughing,  assumes  a  sitting  posture 
and  looks  after  the  crowd.] 


164  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


JACHNE-BRAINE 


Oh,  woe  is  me !  Woe  is  me !  Why  don't  you 
laugh,  eh?  Why  don't  you  laugh?  [Another 
crowd  of  people  comes  from  the  same  direction. 
Men  and  women  are  carrying  a  woman  who  moans 
piteouslyS\ 


A   VOICE 


[From  the  first  crowd.']  Look,  something  else  is 
coming  here. 

A    VOICE 

[From  the  second  crowd.]  A  woman  has  fallen 
in  the  pangs  of  childbirth,  or  perhaps  it  is  a  mis- 
carriage .  .  .  [The  woman  is  carried  out  at  the 
gate.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me!     What  do  you  say  to  that,  eh? 

[tille  stretches  herself  out  on  the  sofa,  her  face 
upward,  and  folds  her  hands  above  her  head.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Pushes  her.]  Go!  Why  have  you  taken  my 
place  ? 

judke's 

[Voice.  Far  away  to  the  right.]  I  remem- 
bered!    I  remembered!     I  remembered! 

A  woman's 

[Voice  from  the  same  direction.]  Why  that's 
the  grave-digger's  son! 


Act  IVJ  THE  TREASURE  U» 

CONFUSED    CRIES 

He  has  remembered  —  the  grave-digger's  son  has 
remembered !  —  Judke  has  remembered ! 

[tillk    jumps    up    and    runs    toward    the    back- 
ground.'\ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Oh,  my  hands  and  my  feet  are  trembling ! 

JUDKE 

\^Approaching.'\     I  remember!     I  remember! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Chone,  get  up!  Judke  has  remembered!  Get 
up,  Chone !  Look  at  the  drunkard !  He  can't  be 
waked  up!  {^Cries  aloud.]  Chone,  get  up! 
Judke  has  remembered. 

CHONE 

\^Raises  his  head.'\     What  do  you  want,  eh? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Judke  has  remembered! 

CHONE 

[Rises  a  little  more.]     Eh? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Mocking  him.']     Eh?     Drunkard! 

TILLE 

[Com,es  back  weary  and  overworn.']     Too  late. 


166  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

What  do  you  say  to  that?  Must  he  cry  it  out 
so  that  all  hear  it  ?     Oh^  that  .  .  . ! 

TILLE 

Ah,  well,  there's  nothing  to  be  done. 

CHONE 

Oh,  my  daughter,  my  millionaire  lady !  [i/e 
is  about  to  lie  down  again.] 

TILLE 

Don't  lie  down  now.  You'll  soon  see  some- 
thing.    It  will  amuse  you. 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

He  is  lying  down  again,  of  all  things,  the 
drunkard ! 

JUDKE 

\^Accompanied  by  a  great  crowd  of  people  runs 
about  among  the  headstones,  leaps  and  cries:] 
I've   remembered!     I've   remembered! 

CONFUSED   VOICES 

Well,   where   is    it.''     Where?     Tell   us! 

TILLE 

[^Stands  leaning  against  the  table.]  Be  still, 
let  him  come  to  himself.  He'll  tell  you  when  the 
time  comes  — 

JUDKE 

[Making  his  way  through  the  crowd,  to  tille:] 
I  remember,  hee,  hee,  hee !  I  remember !  You  see ! 
I  fix! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  167 

[the  president  of  the  congregation  and  soskin 

crowd    up    to    JUDKE.] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Have  you  rememb'ered  where  you  buried  your 
dog? 

JUDKE 

Yes,  I  remember,  hee,  hee,  hee  —  I  remember. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Where  is  it? 

SOSKIN 

On  the   new  field? 

JUDKE 

I'll  tell  .  .  .  but  I  want  ...  I  want  .  .  .  hee, 
hee,  hee! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  do  you  mean — "I  want,"  "I  want"! 

JUDKE 

[Bursts  out.]     Won't  say! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Wliat  kind  of  nonsense  is  this? 

JUDKE 

I  tell,  but  you  do  what  I  want. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[To    TiLLE.]      Do    you     understand     wliat    he 
wants  ? 


168  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV, 

TILLE 

I  suppose  he  has  taken  something  in  his  head. 
He'll  tell  you  soon  enough. 

CHONE 

ISits   up  and   rubs   his   knee.^     Ah,  my   little 
daughter ! 

л   YOICS 

Well,  let  us  hear  what  he  wants. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  do  you  want? 

JUDKE 

I   want  all  to  get  up  —  all,   all,  all,  so  —  all, 
all !     And  what  I  do  —  you  do  same. 

CHONE 

{^Laughs     somewhat     drunkenly.~\     Hay,     hay, 
hay !     ^Lights  his  pipe."] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

So  that's  what  you  want!     I'll  beat  you  to  .  .  .! 

A    VOICE 

He  wants  to  make  fools  of  us  all,  it  seems. 

SECOND     VOICE 

The  crazy  fellow  make   fools  of  us.'*     No,  it's 
simply  his  craziness ! 

THIRD   VOICE 

I  suppose  he  has  been  put  up  to  this ! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  169 

CHONE 

Hay,  hay,  hay! 

VOICES 

Show  us  the  place  this  minute  or  we'll  tear  you 
to  pieces!     [They  crowd  more  closely  about  him.~\ 

JUDKE 

[With  rage-distorted  face.]  I  won't  show! 
Never !     I    forget   again  I 

[the  crowd  surges  back,  frightened.] 

TILLE 

Do  you  think  you  are  his  masters  and  may  beat 
him?  How  does  it  concern  you  anyhow  where  the 
treasure  is? 

CHONE 

Hear  my  little  daughter! 

A    VOICE 

What  do  you  mean  by  saying,  how  does  it  con- 
cern us?  For  what  purpose  have  we  been  here 
for  half  a  day  and  a  whole  night? 

TILLE 

You  won't  get  a  share  in  the  treasure  for  all 
that. 

A    VOICE 

Very  well,  but  we'd  simply  like  to  know. 

JUDKE 

I  run  away !     I  never  tell ! 


170  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

THE    PRESIDENT 

That's  what  comes  of  having  dealings  with  a 
crazy  fellow! 

VOICES 

Well,  for  my  part,  let's  stand  up.  We  might 
as  well  do  his  will.  What's  the  difference.''  Let's 
act  a  little  crazy !  A  man  would  like  mightily  to 
know  where  the  treasure  is  and  how  big  it  is!  If 
we  could  only  get  half  of  it !  Stand  up !  Stand 
up!     Take  it  as  a  penance! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

It's  enough  to  drive  one  crazy!  The  things  he 
thinks  of! 

CHONE 

Hay  —  hay^  hay!  That's  right!  Hay  —  hay, 
hay! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

It  seems  that  we  are  going  crazy  indeed! 

VOICES 

Stand  up  for  all  I  care!  Stand  up  as  if  you 
were  praying!  What  do  you  think?  It's  nearly 
time  for  morning  prayers  !  Sh !  Keep  still !  the 
general  wants  to  review  his  troops.  [They  stand 
up  in  a  single  row.l 

JUDKE 

Нее,  hee,  hee!  I  show!  Нее,  hee,  hee!  I 
do  ...  I  say  .  .  .  you  do  same,  say  same! 

CHONE 

Hay,  hay,  hay!     Fine! 


Act  IY]  THE  TREASURE  171 

[the  president,  soskin  and  several  oilier  mod' 
erately  well-dressed  people  withdraw  bach- 
ward  from  the  line.'] 

JUDKE 

[To  these  men.']     All,  all!     I  want,  Нее,  Нее, 
hee  .  .  . 

CHONE 

Hay,  hay,  hay,  hay! 

[the  PRESIDENT,  SOSKIN  and  the  others  join  the 
line,  yet  stand  a  little  aside  from  it.] 

JUDKE 

[Cries.]     Нее,  hee,  hee! 
[the  CROWD  is  silent.] 

JUDKE 

You  do  same  —  hee,  hee,  hee ! 

the  crowd 
[Bursts  out.]     Нее,  hee,  hee! 

JUDKE 

[Again.]     Нее,  hee,  hee! 
the  crowd 

[Repeats.]     Нее,  hee,  hee! 
[jUDKE  makes  grimaces.] 
[the  crowd  imitates  him.] 

jachne-braine 
Crazy ! 

[tille  motions  her  to  be  silent.] 


173  THE  TREASURE  [Act  ly 

JUDKB 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

THE  CROWD 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

JUDKE 

Thieves ! 

THE  CROWD 

Thieves ! 

JUDKB 

Grasshoppers ! 

THE  CROWD 

Grasshoppers ! 

JUDKB 

Money  grubbers! 

THE  CROWD 

Money  grubbers! 

[jACHNE-BRAiNE  motious  to  CHONE  with  her  hand 
and  shakes  her  head.^ 

[cHONE  bids  her,  by  a  motion  of  the  hand,  to  leave 
him  alone.] 

JUDKE 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

THE  CROWD 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

JUDKE 

Hypocrites ! 

THE  CROWD 

Hypocrites ! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  173 

JUDKE 

Нее,  hee,  bee! 

THE  CROWD 

Нее,  hee,  bee! 

JUDKK 

AUof  us! 

THE  CROWD 

All  of  us! 

JUDKB 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

THE  CROWD 

Нее,  hee,  hee! 

[jUDKE  grimacing  адат."] 

[the   CROWD   imitates  him.     In   the  last  rows  an 
hysterical    woman    bursts    out    weeping.'] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Woe  is  me !     They  are  all  going  crazy ! 
[jUDKE  laughs  his  most  disagreeable  laugh.] 
[the   crowd   scarcely   stirs.] 

A  voice 

We  really  have  gone  crazy!     What's  the  use  of 
all  this? 

SECOND    VOICE 

Much  good  will  it  do  us  even  if  we  know  where 
the  treasure  is ! 


174  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

THIRD  VOICE 

There's  some  one  behind  all  this !  Do  you  un- 
derstand all  that  he  has  told  us  here? 

VOICES 

Now  he  must  show  us  at  once. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

This  minute  you  go  and  show  us ! 

TILLE 

[Who  has  been  leaning  against  the  table,  her 
hands  upon  her  bosom,  says  calmly.^  He's  not 
going  to  show  you  yet.      [All  eyes  turn  to  her.} 

A    VOICE 

Be  still!     There's  something  new  again! 

SECOND     VOICE 

First  the  brother  and  then  the  sister! 

TILLE 

[To  the  astonished  chone.]  You  want  to  be- 
come grave-digger  again,  don't  you,  father? 

CHONE 

[Opens  his  mouth  wide  as  if  he  had  suddenly 
grasped  the  situation.  He  gets  up,  walks  slowly 
to  the  table,  lays  down  his  pipe  and  says  with 
slow  emphasis. '1      He  will  not  show! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  words  are  those?  What  do  you  mean:  he 
won't  show  ?  I  suppose  we  will  all  make  fools 
of  ourselves  here  for  nothing  at  all,  eh? 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  175 

\ 

CHONE 

What  do  you  think?  That  you  are  going  to 
take  my  position  away  from  me  and  the  treasure 
too? 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Take  it  away!  Take  it  away!  Aren't  you 
going  to  get  your  share? 

CHONE 

It  is  my  treasure.  My  son  found  it  and  so  the 
whole  of  it  belongs  to  us, 

THE    PRESIDENT 

He  found  it  upon  the  land  of  the  congregation. 

S09KIN 

And  undoubtedly  in  the  new  field. 

CHONE 

No  use!  He  won't  show  anything!  I  won't 
permit  him  to!  But  if  you  desire  him  to  show 
it  —  then  I  will  have  to  be  made  grave-digger 
again.      [General  hearty  laughter.} 

A    VOICE 

The  stupid  fellow!  As  if  he  will  need  to  be 
grave-digger  with  his  share  of  the  treasure! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

So  you  give  up  your  claim  to  a  share  in  the 
treasure  and  want  to  be  grave-digger  again  in- 
stead? 


176  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

CHONE 

Give  up  my  claim  ?  The  whole  treasure  is  mine. 
You  will  get  a  share  in  it. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Are  you  drunk  or  what? 

A    VOICE 

What  a  question!  He  can  hardly  stand  on  his 
legs! 

CHONE 

You  needn't  worry  about  my  condition.  I  know 
very  well  what  I'm  saying. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

All  that  you  will  accomplish  is  that  you  won't 
even  get  your  share. 

CHONE 

Is  that  what  you  think .>*  We  shall  see!  Go 
ahead  and  hunt  the  treasure.  He  won't  show  you 
where  it  is. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[To  JUDKE.]  Don't  listen  to  your  father;  he's 
drunk  now!  Tell  me!  I  am  the  president  of  the 
congregation. 

CHONE 

He  won't  tell  you;  you  may  depend  upon  it. 

TILLE 

You  are  a  pious  man  and  a  decent  one!  Teach- 
ing the  boy  not  to  heed  his  father. 


Act  IVJ  THE  TREASURE  177 


A    VOICE 


Let  him  be  made  grave-digger  again  and  let  his 
son  show  us  the  place  so  that  the  whole  affair  may 
end!  Why  should  we  be  standing  around  here? 
And  pretend  to  be  crazy  in  addition ! 

A    SECOND    VOICE 

What  will  we  get  out  of  it  if  his  son  shows  us? 
I'd  rather  go  looking  myself, 

THE    PRESIDENT 

That's  what  you  should  all  have  done ! 

TILLE 

And  of  course  you  will  find  it  at  once,  if  you 
hunt  for  it. 

A    VOICE 

All  the  people  in  the  city  are  looking  and  can't 
find  it. 

SECOND    VOICE 

For  a  year  we  may  be  looking  and  not  find  it. 

VOICES 

Let  him  be  grave-digger  again !  Let  him  be 
grave-digger ! 

SOSKIN 

[To  THE  PRESIDENT.]  What  objection  have  you? 
Let  him  be  grave-digger. 

CHONE 

For  fourteen  years  I  was  grave-digger.  I  did 
my  work  faithfully ;  no  one  has  an  evil  word  to  say 


178  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

of  me.  The  whole  town  is  assembled  here.  Let 
any  one  speak  up  and  say  any  evil  of  me  that  he 
knows ! 

VOICES 

It's  a  fact !  He's  right !  What  do  they  want  of 
him? 

CHONE 

And  am  I  suddenly  to  be  kicked  out  after  four- 
teen years  ?  I  want  to  be  grave-digger  again.  I 
want  to  be  grave-digger  as  long  as  I  myself  want 
to  be. 

VOICES 

Surely !  Let  him  be  grave-digger  again !  Let 
him  be ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

[To  THE  CROWD.]  Who  is  asking  your  opinion? 
All  you  have  to  do  is  stand  there  and  be  silent. 

VOICES 

Is  that  so?  That's  he  all  over!  He's  lord  over 
this  city! 

so  SKIN 

And  why  not,  after  all?  Let  him  be  grave- 
digger. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

And  suppose  the  whole  thing  is  a  fraud?  We 
may  make  him  grave-digger  again  and  then  dis- 
cover that  his  son  knows  nothing  or  has  not  re- 
membered at  all! 

TILLE 

That's  simply  a  subterfuge ! 


Act  IVJ  THE  TREA5URE  179 

JUDKE 

I  remember!  So  sure  as  I  am  a  Jew  I  have  re- 
membered!    I  tell! 

CHONE 

Judke,  be  silent! 

S08KIN 

Consider  now  —  if  it  is  a  fraud,  you  can  deprive 
him  of  his  position  again! 

TILLE 

That's  it.     What  is  there  to  be  feared? 

VOICE 

If  I  were  Chone  I  wouldn't  let  them  bargain 
with  me,  and  the  council  could  have  whistled  after 
the  treasure! 

TILLE 

But  you  see  we  happen  to  be  honest  people. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Very  well,  then.  Let  him  be  grave-digger  again. 
[Го  JUDKE.]     Now,  then,  tell  us ! 

CHONE 

Oho!  He's  just  to  tell  you  now  and  that's  all, 
eh? 

THE    PRESIDENT 

What  more  do  you  want  ? 

CHONE 

I  want  it  black  on  white. 


180  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Doesn't  it  satisfy  you  that  I've  said  it  before  the 
whole  city?     What  do  you  take  me  for? 

SOSKIN 

You  mustn't  blame  him  for  it.  You  see  how 
drunk  he  is, 

CHONE 

Whether  drunk  or  not,  I  know  what  I  want.  I 
want  to  see  it  black  on  white  that  Chone  is  to  re- 
main grave-digger  as  long  as  he  lives  or  as  long  as 
he  wants  to  be.  I  don't  want  to  be  kicked  out 
again  the  minute  it  happens  to  suit  some  one.  I 
want  to  give  up  the  job  of  my  own  accord  or  not 
at  all. 

VOICES 

He's  right!  He  isn't  as  drunk  as  you  think! 
Don't  worry,  the  little  man  knows  what  he's  about. 

CHONE 

I  know  what  I  want.  My  head  isn't  withered 
yet.  Write  as  follows:  "If  Chone's  son  Judke 
shows  the  right  place  where  he  has  buried  his  dog, 
then  Chone  will  be  made  grave-digger  again  and 
will  have  the  position  as  long  as  he  lives  or  as  long 
as  he  himself  desires.  And  if  a  treasure  is  found 
in  the  grave  of  the  dog,  or  any  amount  of  money  at 
all,  one-half  is  to  belong  to  Chone  and  the  other 
half  to  the  congregation." 

SOSKIN 

Oh,  no,  that's  ridiculous.  You  can't  sign  that. 
The  treasure  may  be  in  the  new  field. 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  181 


CHONE 


If  it  is,  you  may  go  to  law.  I'll  not  remain  your 
debtor,  you  may  be  sure. 

VOICES 

What  does  that  man  Soskin  want?  Why  does 
he  quarrel  about  a  share?  The  whole  world  is  too 
little  for  him. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

The  boldness  of  this  old  man  is  incredible.  Now 
he  actually  wants  half  of  the  treasure. 

CHONE 

A  full  half.  And  you  may  well  thank  me  that 
I'm  so  kind  and  am  willing  to  hand  over  the  other 
half  to  the  congregation 

THE    PRESIDENT 

And  all  that  I  say  is  —  you  are  a  great  scamp. 

CHONE 

And  all  that  I  say  is  —  you're  a  greater  one ! 

THE    PRESIDENT 

You  tell  me  that  to  my  face? 

CHONE 

I'll  tell  you  exactly  what  you'll  tell  me.  I  treat 
refined  people  as  they  deserve,  but  I  won't  let  you 
treat  me  like  a  pig. 

A    WELL    DRESSED    MAN 

[To  THE  PRESIDENT.]  You  won't  Stand  there 
and  quarrel  with  him,  will  you?  You  see  that  he's 
drunk ! 


182  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV. 

CHONE 

It  doesn't  matter.     Let  me  be! 

VOICE 

He  does  better  than  some  one  who  is  sober. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

And  I'm  to  give  in  to  this  fellow?  I'm  to  majce 
a  written  agreement  with  him? 

CHONE 

Oh,  well,  as  you  please. 

VOICE 

Well,  what  is  the  end  to  be?  You're  willing  to 
give  in  to  the  crazy  man  and  not  to  him?  What 
are  we  to  stand  here  for? 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Who  bids  you  stand  here  ?     Go  rather  and  hunt ! 

A    VOICE 

And  he  imagines  that  we  would  turn  the  treasure 
over  to  him  for  less  than  half! 

SECOND    VOICE 

He  would  be  lucky  if  he  got  half  of  it  from  me. 

THIRD    VOICE 

It's  easy  enough  for  him  to  say:  "Go  and 
hunt !  "  What  is  it  to  him  that  one  neglects  one's 
affairs  and  wanders  about  the  graveyard  day  and 
night  seeking! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  183 

THE    WELL    DRESSED    MAN 

[To  THE  PRESIDENT.]  If  he  wants  a  signature, 
give  him  a  signature,  so  that  something  real  — 

THE    PRESIDENT 

\_To  CHONE.]  You'll  think  of  me  in  good  time, 
I  assure  you ! 

CHONE 

We'll  see  about  that  later.  [Го  the  crowd.] 
Who  has  paper  and  a  pencil  ? 

A   VOICE 

I !  .  .  .  [A  YOUNG  MAN  makes  Jiis  way  through 
the  crcnvd.^     I  have  paper  and  pencil. 

CHONE 

Can  you  write? 

YOUNG    MAN 

What  a  question?  Why  else  should  I  be  carry- 
ing writing  material  about  with  me?  [Laughter.^ 
I  happen  to  be  a  scrivener  —  a  writing-teacher. 

CHONE 

All  the  better.  \^He  clears  a  space  on  the  table. 
Lanterns  are  placed  in  position  and  a  chair  drawn 
up.^  Wait  —  how  did  I  put  it?  "  If  the  son  of 
Chone  the  grave-digger,  the  son  of  Reb  Juda,  shows 
the  right  place  where  he  has  buried  his  dog 
Schutschke,  then  the  aforesaid  Chone,  son  of  Reb 
Juda  and  grave-digger  to  this  congregation,  shall 
be  reinstated  as  grave-digger  upon  the  God's  acre 
of  this  congregation  and  remain  in  office  so  long  as 
he  lives  or  so  long  as  he  himself  may  desire.     And 


184  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

if,  in  that  place  where  the  dog  is  buried,  money  or 
valuables  be  found,  the  half  shall  belong  to  the 
aforesaid  Chone,  son  of  Reb  Juda  and  grave- 
digger,  and  the  other  half  to  our  beloved  congrega- 
tion."    Have  you  got  that  ? 

YOUNG    MAN 

I  have  written  it. 

CHONE 

[Takes  the  paper,  puts  on  his  spectacles,  reads  it 
through.     Then  to  the  president.]     Now  sign  it. 

THE    PRESIDENT 

This  is  the  first  time  in  my  life  that  a  thing  like 
this  happens  to  me.  [He  reads  the  document 
through  and  signs  it.^ 

VOICE 

The  old  man  is  an  able  fellow !  We  didn't  really 
know  him. 

CHONE 

I'm  this  way  —  if  nobody  touches  me,  I  touch 
nobody  either,  but  if  .  .  .  [He  takes  the  paper  and 
reads  the  signature.l  Chaim,  son  of  Reb  Mordche 
Sackheim,  President  of  the  Congregation. 

SOSKIN 

And  I  tell  you  for  the  last  time  —  you'll  have 
some  trouble  with  me  before  all  is  over. 

A    VOICE 

There  he  is  again !     Keeps  turning  up ! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  185 


\_Folds  the  document  and  puts  it  into  his  pocket.^ 
Go,  Judke,  and  show  them  now ! 

JUDKE 

Нее,  hee,  hee !  [Rushes  along  the  main  path  to 
the  second  side-path  up  which  he  runs.^ 

[the  crowd  bursts  out  in  loud  applause  and  runs 
after  him  shouting  and  laughing.^ 

TILLE 

That  was  good.  Now  quickly  for  the  treasure! 
[^Runs  after  the  crowd.] 

CHONE 

[^Begins  to  run,  then  bethinks  himself  and  re- 
mains standing.]  Jachne-Braine,  put  our  things 
back  into  the  house!  I'll  run  to  the  treasure! 
\^He  hurries  away.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Rises  from  the  sofa.]  Oh,  oh,  oh !  What  is  it 
that  God  has  visited  upon  us !  Oh,  oh  .  .  .  [She 
picks  up  some  articles  of  clothing  and  carries  them 
into  the  house.] 

VOICES 

He  buried  his  dog  in  the  grave  of  the  holy 
Rabbi !  On  the  grave  of  a  saint !  Woe  !  On  the 
grave  of  a  holy  man !     Oh,  the  crazy  scoundrel ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Comes  from  the  house  and  shakes  her  head.] 
Oh,  that  he  may  be  ... ! 


186  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


VOICES 


[Drawing    nearer.']     He    probably    wanted    his 
dog  to  go  to  Paradise ! 


OTHER    VOICES 


The  little  board !  And  there's  the  dog,  too,  hap- 
pily!    And  how  about  the  money?  the  treasure? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Carrying  a  heap  of  bedding.]  Oh,  my  legs  are 
giving  way  under  me!  [She  sinks  down  on  the 
sofa.] 

VOICE 

That's  for  burying  the  dog  in  the  grave  of  a  holy 
man !  And  that  for  burying  him  at  all !  And  that 
for  all  your  crazy  doings ! 

JUDKE 

[Comes  running  with  the  dead  dog  in  his  arm 
and  cries  hoarsely.]  Leave  me  alone!  Leave  me 
alone!      [He  disappears  through  the  gate.] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Worn  out.]  Serves  him  right!  Serves  him 
right ! 

VOICES 

How  many  Imperials  ?  —  Four  ?  —  What  ?    Four  ? 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Groans  desperately.]     Oh! 

VOICES 

No  more  ?  —  And  that's  the  whole  treasure  ?  — 
A  fine  treasure !  —  A  very   fine  treasure !  — They 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  187 

ought    to    dig    deeper !     Maybe    there's    more !  — 
And  for  that  they  dig  up  the  grave  of  the  holy 


[jACHNE-BRAiNE    bursts   out   into   loud,   hysterical 
wailing  as  at  a  funeral.^ 

'        VOICES 

They're  digging  up  another  corner !  Oh,  oh,  on 
the  grave  of  the  holy  man !  —  And  they're  not 
ashamed  !  They  have  no  fear  of  God  !  —  They're 
digging  only  at  the  corners  !  —  Nothing !  —  Like 
the  day  that  is  gone !  —  They  can  look  long !  — 
Only  the  four  Imperials.  [The  crowd  gradually 
melts  away.'\ 

VOICES 

[Of  the  receding  members  of  the  crowd  amid 
the  trees.'\  A  treasure !  —  There  you  liave  this 
famous  treasure  !  —  Lost  a  whole  night  for  nothing, 
nothing !  —  And  they've  dug  up  the  grave  of  the 
holy  man  !  —  Oh,  oh  !  —  How  could  any  one  bear  to 
do  such  a  thing!  [/i  group  of  the  people  who  are 
leaving  emerges  from  among  the  trees.] 

THE    FIRST 

What  won't  people  do  for  the  sake  of  money ! 

THE    SECOND 

And  whose  money  ?  Who  would  have  had  any 
good  of  it? 

THE    FIRST 

The  city. 


188  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 


THE    SECOND 


The  city!     A  fat  lot  the  city  would  have  had 
with  Chaim  Sackheim  within  reach  of  the  money. 


THE    THIRD 


And   even   if  the  city   had   gotten  money,  how 
would  it  have  profited  us?      [They  disappear.^ 


ANOTHER 


\In  a  second  group.]  How  could  it  have  oc- 
curred to  the  crazy  fellow  to  bury  his  dog? 

A    SECOND    MAN 

[From  the  same  group.]  For  that  trick  alone 
Chone  ought  to  be  deprived  of  his  office. 

A    WOMAN 

How  can  he  help  having  a  crazy  son?  [Disap- 
pears.] 

A    MAN 

[From  a  third  group.]  If  one  had  found  some- 
thing in  a  different  corner,  Chone  would  have  no 
right  to  demand  a  share  at  all,  because  that  in 
itself  —  [He  disappears.  Yet  another  group  is 
seen  containing  the  president  and  soskin.] 

THE    PRESIDENT 

Law  or  no  law,  you  wouldn't  have  received  a 
kopek ! 

so SKIN 

And  I  tell  you  that  I  —  [They  disappear.] 

[A  sound  of  laughter  approaches.    The  people,  who 
are  leaving  the  graveyard  in  small  and  large 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  189 

groups  by  the  several  paths,  are  shaking  with 
laughter  and  repeat  with  variations  :'\ 

A  treasure !  —  There  you  have  your  treasure  ;  — 
Four  Imperials  are  a  treasure,  and  all  the  goings- 
on!  —  A  treasure  !  —  A  remarkable  treasure !  —  And 
the  way  they  let  themselves  be  made  crazy !  —  Did 
one  ever  hear  of  the  like  of  such  a  treasure !  —  A 
capable  girl,  that  Tille  !  —  A  girl  in  a  thousand  !  — 
She  deserves  a  husband!  —  If  she  had  a  dowry  I'd 
take  her  on  the  spot!  .  .  . 

CHONE 

[Comes  from  the  right,  as  though  he  had  stolen 
away  from,  somewhere  and  approaches  the  weeping 
jACHNE-BRAiNE.]  A  treasure,  eh?  A  great 
treasure !  Well,  at  least  .  .  .  the  whole  business 
hasn't  cost  us  anything.  .  .  .  I've  remained  grave- 
digger.  So  what  are  you  howling  for?  Enough  of 
that !  Come,  let  us  carry  our  things  back  in.  [He 
gathers  various  objects,  humming  to  himself.^ 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Tearfullyl  But  if  it  was  so  near,  and  maybe 
we  could  have  .  .  . 

CHONE 

Go !  Don't  be  so  stupid,  and  keep  still.  All  the 
things  she  must  weep  about 

[tille  comes,  laughing  heartily.'] 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

[Still  weeping.']  She  laughs!  Oh,  that  I  could 
pour  out  my  bitter  heart  over  you !  She  laughs. 
You'll  not  be  able  to  show  your  face  in  the  street 
again,  and  you  laugh ! 


190  THE  TREASURE  [Act  ly 

TILLE 

[Laughing.']  What?  I  may  not  show  myself 
in  the  street?  What  have  I  to  be  ashamed  of? 
Let  them  be  ashamed!  I  surely  got  the  better  of 
them  all.  .  .  .  On  the  contrary,  I'll  walk  along  the 
street  proudly  and  hold  up  my  head.  .  .  .  For  one 
day  at  least  I  was  a  millionaire  lady.  And  .  .  . 
and  I  have  some  money  in  the  bank  too  .  .  . 

CHONE   and   JACHNE-BEAINE 

[At  the  same  time.']     What? 

TILLE 

You  heard  me.  It's  not  a  great  deal,  to  be  sure, 
but  enough  to  catch  a  man  with  ...  a  very  mod- 
est one  and  perhaps  not  so  very  modest  after  all. 
I'm  such  a  celebrity  in  the  town  now  and  I  have 
such  a  fine  trousseau  .  .  . 

CHONE 

[Enthusiastically.]  Jachne-Braine !  Jachne- 
Braine ! 

JACHNE-BRAINE 

Why  didn't  you  tell  us  that  before?     Oh!  .  .  . 

CHONE 

Oh,  I  must  take  a  drink  to  celebrate  that !  Let's 
go  in!  [To  TILLE.]  Oh,  you!  .  .  .  The  things 
that  you  .  .  .  Well  .  .  .  You  deserve  to  have  your 
ears  boxed  anyhow. 

TILLE 

[Holds  up  her  face  to  him.]      Here! 


Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  191 

[cHONE  bursts  out  into  a  mighty  shout  of  laughter. 
They  all  go  into  the  house.^ 

[Jn  the  windows  of  the  grave-digger's  house  ap- 
pears the  dim  glow  of  a  lighted  candle. 
Through  the  closed  windows  the  voices  can  be 
but  faintly  heard.  The  laughter  dies  in  the 
distance.     Silence  reigTis.} 

THE    DEAD 

[In  shrouds  and  praying  shawls  appear  singly 
and  in  groups  amid  the  graves.  They  whisper  and 
breathe  their  words.^  Swiftly  into  the  syna- 
gogue !  .  .  .  Hasten !  .  .  .  The  hour  of  midnight 
is  long  past.  .  .  .  Hasten.  .  .  , 

[They  hasten  to  the  gate.  One  sees  only  their 
silhouettes  in  the  dim  light  of  the  veiled  moon.^ 

I  thought  we  would  not  come  out  to-day  at  all. 

The  dead  fear  the  breath  of  the  living. 

We  fear  them  more  than  they  do  us.  There  is  no 
peace  betwixt  life  and  death.  .  .  . 

No  peace  ...  no  peace  .  .  . 

Indeed  life  vexed  me  grievously  to-day. 

Vexed  is  not  the  word.  I  lived  in  their  life  so 
really  that  I  shuddered  and  feared. 

Shuddered  with  fear  or  with  longing?  Did  you 
feel  a  yearning  for  your  money? 

[Ghostly  laughter  shakes  the  rows  of  the  dead.] 


192  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

The  distinguished  and  the  wealthy  must  surely 
have  had  a  bad  day. 

It  fairly  smelled  of  money  and  they  had  to  lie 
with  the  worms. 

It  almost  threw  them  out  of  their  graves. 

MANY 

Money  .  .  .  money  .  .  .  money  .  .  .  [Ghostly 
laughter.^ 

But  you  poor  devils  hadn't  a  much  better  time 
either.  It  smelled  of  money  and  you  couldn't  even 
beg.      \_Laughter.'] 

It  is  high  time  for  all  of  you  to  be  forgetting 
life.  .  .  .  Come  quickly  into  the  synagogue.  .  .  . 
[Many  of  the  dead  vanish.'} 

It  gave  me  a  really  exalted  feeling  to  see  how 
little  fear  of  us  they  felt. 

Don't  flatter  yourself.  We  would  have  been  no 
better.     We  were  no  better  either. 

MANY 

[At  the  same  time."]  Money  .  .  .  money  .  .  . 
money  .  .  . 

OTHERS 

And  that  is  life  .  .  .  that  is  life  .  .  .  that  is 
life  .  .  . 

It  exalted  me  in  my  grave  too.  So  many  women 
walked  about  here  to-day.  Young  ones  and  pretty 
ones,  I  wager.  .  .  .   [Laughter.} 


-Act  IV]  THE  TREASURE  193 

Who  speaks  thus?  Who  opens  his  mouth  to 
speak  such  ugly  words? 

It's  the  petty  field  surgeon  who  lies  buried  by 
the  wall. 

THE    PIOUS    RABBI 

[In  passing.  His  praying  shatcl  hangs  but 
loosely  over  his  left  shoulder.]  They  have  dug  up 
my  whole  grave.  .  .  .  They  have  dug  away  my 
right  arm.  Woe,  how  shall  I  now  put  on  my  pray- 
ing shawl?  How  shall  I  appear  before  God?  [To 
a  group.]  Will  not  some  one  help  me  put  on  my 
praying  shawl?  [They  surround  and  help  him. 
They  show  signs  of  deep  feeling  at  the  sight  of  the 
missing  arm.  Murmurs  of  astonishment  and  com- 
passion.] 

MANY 

Woe  .  .  .  woe  .  .  .  woe  .  .  . 

OTHERS 

Money  .  .  .  money  .  .  .  money  .  .  . 

THE    RABBI 

Now  will  I  go  and  appear  before  God.  .  .  . 
Now  I  will  ask  him  .  .  .  [He  vanishes  through  the 
gate.] 

He  will  get  no  answer  ...  he  will  get  no  an- 
swer. 

ONE    OP    THE    DEAD 

[With  feeling.]  They  who  are  in  life  still  stand 
at  the  same  point.  Generation  dies  after  generation 
and  all  remains  as  it  has  been.  As  it  was  afore- 
time, so  it  was  in  my  time  and  so  it  is  to-day. 


194  THE  TREASURE  [Act  IV 

MANY 

Money  .  .  .  money  .  .  .  money  .  .  . 

And  yet  it  must  lead  to  something.     Surely  there 
must  be  a  goal. 

Only  God  knows  that  .  .  . 

And  man  must  learn  what  it  is. 

That  will  be  his  greatest  victory. 

Man's  greatest  victory. 

SEVERAL 

Man's  .  .  . 

OTHERS 

The    living    one's  .  .  .  And    we?     [A    ghostly 
breathing  of  laughter  and  sighing.l 

THE    FIRST  ' 

Man's  greatest  victory  .  .  . 

CURTAIN 


Ч^^Г 


000  970  825 


